Police leader's advances 'made woman uncomfortable'

A national Police Federation chairman flirted with a younger woman on a night out with colleagues and repeatedly topped up her glass before touching her bottom in a restaurant, a disciplinary tribunal has heard.

The unnamed police officer felt she had to accept John Apter's advances because of his senior position, prosecutors have said.

She looked "uncomfortable" and changed places with colleagues at the table to avoid him, the hearing was told.

The former federation chairman, 55, denies the charge as well as making sexual remarks about a police constable's widow, Lissie Harper, and another woman.

Previously the tribunal heard he spoke to colleagues about Ms Harper in 2020, saying: "I'd like to comfort her in my hotel room."

He is also alleged to have commented on a pregnant woman's figure in 2019, telling her: "Maybe you'll get a bum now."

Barrister Cecily White, presenting charges of gross misconduct, said Mr Apter was socialising in London before a Police Federation of England and Wales awards ceremony in December 2021.

She said the chairman bought a woman a bottle of Prosecco in a pub "when he bought individual drinks for everyone else" and topped up her glass three times.

The group moved to the restaurant where Mr Apter stood at the bar with his hands on the woman's hips, the tribunal heard.

PC Jon Carter-Lang told the hearing the woman, who had been smiling and laughing, suddenly looked "uncomfortable".

He said she had been "touchy-feely" and "flirtatious" throughout the evening and at one point placed her hand on Mr Apter's chest.

Barrister Ms White said Mr Apter made the officer move along a bench in order to sit next to her and then touched her bottom, whispering: "Is that OK?"

The accused denies flirting but admits he scratched the woman's back.

Earlier, Martin Buhagiar, a former federation head of communications, told the hearing that "jokey, light-hearted" sexual comments had been a "Police Federation issue".

Mr Buhagiar recalled hearing the comment about Ms Harper, which he said led to an "awkward silence" among staff who were present.

He denied a defence lawyer's suggestion that he was "happy to stick the knife in" because his work relationship with Mr Apter had not been good.

The allegations first emerged at the end of 2021, after which Mr Apter was suspended from Hampshire Constabulary and his chairman role.

A criminal inquiry into the claims was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

PC Harper, from Wallingford in Oxfordshire, was killed while responding to a bike theft in Berkshire in 2019. Three teenagers were jailed for his manslaughter in 2020.

The hearing continues.

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