Detective sacked after branding ‘all men’ rapists who should have 9pm curfews & calling trans women ‘c***s in frocks’

A DETECTIVE who told colleagues “all men are rapists” and should face a 9pm curfew has been sacked following a gross misconduct probe. Rachel Fletcher has been axed from Northumbria Police after also describing transgender women as “c**ks in frocks”, a panel heard. Rachel Fletcher has been axed from Northumbria Police Credit: NNP DC Fletcher told colleagues ‘all men are rapists’ and should face a 9pm curfew Credit: NNP It was also heard that Fletcher, who worked in the force’s safeguarding unit, said “no wonder a f***ing man did it”, while talking about a crime. Det Con Fletcher made the “inappropriate” comments about men and trans women to colleagues over an 11-month period. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! A panel at Houghton police station near Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, found that she had made all of the alleged comments. It heard she breached Standards of Professional Behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy and equality and diversity. Barrister Olivia Checa-Dover said Fletcher had been accused of making comments about men in which she “expressed hatred”. She told the panel that Fletcher had made junior male colleagues feel intimidated and uncomfortable, but had showed no remorse. DC Fletcher admitted saying, “the only way to stop night time rapes is to put a 9 o’clock curfew on all men”, or something similar, as a joke. She said: “I wouldn’t have said all men are rapists because I don’t believe that all men are rapists. I mentioned the male curfew as a joke. Most read in The Sun “It’s not a proposition that I would support in reality. It was in an office with colleagues all dealing with the same horrible things I do on a day to day basis. “It was a flippant remark in a much more serious conversation.” In January 2024, Fletcher also referred to transgender women as “c**ks in frocks” during a conversation about strip searches. Ms Checa-Dover added: “There is no doubt that violence against women and girls is a police priority, and a significant public concern. “A police officer asserting that all men should be on a curfew damages efforts to promote public confidence. “If a male police officer made a blanket statement about women, he would be held to account.” Giving evidence, PC Kevin Thompson claimed he joked about Fletcher’s views on men at first, but later felt intimidated. PC Thompson told the panel, chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Andy Hill, that Fletcher had a habit of making her views known. He said :”If a man was saying these things about a woman, they would be dealt with. It just made me feel uncomfortable.” Sergeant Damon Hall overheard Fletcher laughing while discussing a curfew for men with another colleague in December 2023. He said: “Knowing Fletcher as I do, I know she has a sharp wit. “There was a certain amount of tongue and cheek in what she said. “In hindsight, I probably should have challenged it, maybe I missed the boat a little bit there.” DC Barbara Callaghan confirmed she worked with Fletcher in safeguarding. She told the panel they “got on really well”, and had a “warm and friendly relationship”. But it was during their time working together that DC Fletcher was accused of making a comment about “c***ks in frocks”. DC Callaghan said new policy was set to be introduced meaning female officers would be obligated to search transgender women. She told the panel that news of the policy had “upset” Fletcher. Naomi Cunningham, for DC Fletcher, said the rules had included intimate searches, which should have been recognised as unlawful. She said: “It took the supreme court to make that clear but it shouldn’t have taken the supreme court to make that clear”. ACC Hill said the panel had taken into account her important work, as well as character witnesses describing her as kind, hardworking and diligent. But he added the only appropriate outcome would be to dismiss Fletcher without notice, saying: “The officer will be placed on the barred list.”