On 20 June 2025, a police misconduct panel found that former DCI Mason should be dismissed from the Metropolitan Police due to his sexual harassment of Kristina O’Connor, which the panel found amounted to gross misconduct.

In 2011 Ms O’Connor reported an assault by a group of young men at Kentish Town Police Station. James Mason, then a Detective Sergeant, made wholly inappropriate advances of a sexual nature towards Ms O’Connor. He subsequently sent inappropriate emails to her. His actions caused her extreme discomfort and distress at a time when she was a vulnerable victim of crime. The experience has caused her to lose faith in the ability of police officers to keep her, or other women, safe.

Ms O’Connor complained about Mr Mason’s conduct in October 2020. In 2021 a police misconduct panel found Mason guilty of gross misconduct (conduct which amounts to a breach of the police standards of professional behaviour which is so serious that dismissal would be justified). Despite this, Mr Mason was served with a three-year final written warning; he was allowed to remain in post and keep his rank. In October 2022 he resigned.

The Court of Appeal found that the panel had not provided an adequate analysis of, or adequate reasons for, its finding in relation to the seriousness of Mr Mason’s misconduct, or for its finding in relation to his levels of culpability or the harm caused to Ms O’Connor. The Court of Appeal held that this amounted to an error of law. The court noted that Mr Mason’s actions amounted to deliberate and targeted misconduct by a police officer, involving sexual impropriety towards a vulnerable victim. The court found it difficult to identify why the panel had considered that the sanction of a final written warning was more appropriate than the more serious outcomes of reduction in rank or dismissal.

Nancy Collins, of Bindmans said:

The panel’s decision reflects the severity of the sexual harassment Kristina suffered, from an officer in whom she had placed her trust. It cannot be right that police officers who abuse their positions of power, undermine public confidence in policing and cause harm to victims of crime, are allowed to continue in their role. Anything less than dismissal would signal that sexual misconduct is acceptable and discourage victims from speaking out.

Kristina O’Connor said:

My experience has taught me that the police cannot be trusted with women’s safety. I was abused by a police officer who should have been helping me. Since reporting his behaviour I have seen first-hand how the police were more interested in protecting themselves than helping me find justice, or protecting other women.

I have spent many years questioning whether the policing system can be fixed, and have come to the conclusion that if we are serious about women’s safety, it needs replacing entirely. I believe we need to abolish the police and establish an entirely new public service that actually protects and cares for women and communities.

Fighting the system is exhausting and terrifying. But what is more scary is the thought of a world where victims do not speak out, which allows police abuse to continue with impunity. There’s a network of incredible women out here fighting and teaching others how to fight, so I want to encourage women to continue to speak out, if they feel able to.

Ms O’Connor is represented by Nancy Collins, partner, and Rebecca Argall, paralegal, of Bindmans. Before the Cout of Appeal she was represented by Maya Sikand KC and Rosa Polaschek of Doughty Street Chambers. Ms O’Connor was represented by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC and Fiona Murphy KC in the Administrative Court, and by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, Fiona Murphy KC and Rosa Polaschek in connection the application for permission to appeal.

Ms O’Connor’s case continues to be supported by Law for Change.

Above: Kristina O’Connor