Former officer prohibited from sexually harassing colleague

A former senior officer of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has been prohibited from returning to policing after sexually harassing a junior female colleague over an eight-month period. Rob Cousen, who once served as a chief superintendent, obtained the personal phone number of a female officer and sent her unwanted messages, including explicit photographs, an independent panel concluded.

Between December 2021 and May 2022, Cousen attempted to arrange meetings with the officer outside of work hours. GMP Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods condemned the conduct, saying, Rob Cousen's actions were completely unacceptable. I want to commend the officer for her courage in coming forward.

He added, This behaviour falls far short of the standards expected from any GMP officer, especially someone in a leadership role where professionalism is essential. Leadership without integrity and adherence to standards is not acceptable for the GMP today.

Prior to his suspension in October 2022, Cousen was the District Commander for the City of Manchester District. Following allegations of sexual harassment, he was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). He denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation, which began in October 2022 and concluded in September 2024. Cousen submitted early retirement on 24 October 2025 and officially left the force on 30 November 2025.

At a misconduct hearing on 1 December 2025, Cousen admitted that his conduct amounted to gross misconduct. The panel determined that he would have been dismissed had he still been serving. IOPC Director Amanda Rowe emphasized the importance of victims and witnesses feeling safe to report inappropriate behaviour, stating, His actions were an abuse of his position, causing distress to the officer and risking public confidence in policing. His senior rank made his misconduct even more serious, and being barred from policing is the correct outcome.

Both Rowe and GMP expressed frustration at Cousen's prolonged denial of the allegations, which extended the investigation over two years. Rowe commented, It is deeply frustrating that he denied the allegations for so long, delaying justice and causing additional harm to those affected. This underscores the need for reform in the accountability system and improving timeliness in investigations.

Author: Sophia Brooks