Met Police: senior officer sacked over conviction for possessing child abuse video wins appeal against dismissal

Superintendent Robyn Williams, 56, who was commended for her work after the Grenfell Tower disaster, was convicted of possessing a child abuse video on her phone.
Superintendent Robyn Williams, 56 was convicted of possessing a child abuse video on her phone (Getty Images)Superintendent Robyn Williams, 56 was convicted of possessing a child abuse video on her phone (Getty Images)
Superintendent Robyn Williams, 56 was convicted of possessing a child abuse video on her phone (Getty Images)

A highly decorated police officer who was sacked from the Met Police after being convicted of possessing a child abuse video on her phone has won an appeal against her dismissal.

Superintendent Robyn Williams, 56, who was commended for her work after the Grenfell Tower disaster, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service for possession of an indecent image in November 2019.

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At a glance: 5 key points

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- She was dismissed from the force with immediate effect after a special disciplinary hearing in March 2020 found her conviction amounted to “gross misconduct”.

- Ms Williams appealed the dismissal decision and it was upheld on Wednesday by a panel which determined that she should have been issued with a final written warning rather than being dismissed.

- The Police Superintendents’ Association said the independent panel found her dismissal from the Met to be both “unfair” and “unreasonable” and therefore allowed her appeal against her dismissal.

- The trial at the Old Bailey heard that Ms Williams received the video via WhatsApp from her older sister Jennifer Hodge, 57, who had originally been sent the clip by her long-term boyfriend, 63-year-old Dido Massivi.

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- The court accepted Ms Williams did not view the footage but the jury was not convinced she was unaware of it being on her phone.

What’s been said

“I am extremely pleased with today’s outcome and would like to thank the members of the panel for their decision, Gerard Boyle QC for continually fighting my case, and for the countless people within policing and beyond, including representatives of the Police Superintendents’ Association, who have supported me throughout.

“For over a year, before and during the pandemic, I have continued to support local people by working within community initiatives.

“I am therefore delighted to be able to return to the work I love, serving our communities within London.”

Superintendent Robyn Williams

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