Officer 'touched women and nicknamed them after cars'

A police superintendent set a misogynistic work culture and gave women he worked with nicknames like Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Porsche, a misconduct hearing has been told.

It is also alleged Dyfed-Powys Police's Supt Gary Davies touched female staff at a Christmas party.

Supt Davies faces allegations from 2017 to 2021, including that he referred to the appearance or sexuality of women.

He denies fostering or contributing to a "boys' club" atmosphere or acting in a discriminatory manner.

He also denies his alleged actions amount to gross misconduct.

A panel chaired by Oliver Thorne at Dyfed-Powys Police's headquarters in Carmarthen heard on Tuesday from one of two women allegedly touched by Supt Davies at a December 2017 Christmas party.

The complainant, not named for legal reasons, said Supt Davies' hands "had gone around her waist" and he "pulled" her back towards him, which made her feel uncomfortable.

In a statement previously read at the hearing, she said: "There was just something in the way he looks, I don't know, old school.

"The way he looks at me, I know he was flirting with me."

Gerard Boyle KC, for Supt Davies, said he had apologised and had been drinking alcohol at the party.

The complainant said in the office Supt Davies was dubbed "octopus" and was known for being "tactile".

It is also alleged Supt Davies made women feel "excluded in the workplace".

The panel heard another witness, since retired from the force, confirm a group of male staff referred to a "boys' club" because they excluded women staff.

When quizzed by Mr Boyle, the witness, also not named for legal reasons, said: "He set the culture, the culture was misogynistic."

She claimed Supt Davies set up a male-only staff WhatsApp chat in which work was discussed.

Another former female employee told the hearing about an email allegedly sent to female staff saying Supt Davies should be referred to as "sir", despite some recipients being of higher rank.

"I genuinely thought it was a joke when I saw it," the witness said.

It was also alleged Supt Davies made sexually inappropriate comments about female staff while a female colleague was present.

If the allegations are proved, it would amount to a breach of professional standards.

The hearing continues.