A female officer said she had been sexually assaulted by an unknown male police officer in circumstances regarded as being similar to those of Couzens.
PC Alexander Watson was identified as the suspect but after he was arrested an investigation revealed the female officer was an alleged fantasist, a Met Police misconduct report states.
The criminal investigation against PC Watson was dropped and criminal proceedings are now ongoing against the female officer.
During the investigation, Professional Standards Unit (PSU) advised PC Watson’s team that he had been arrested and would be charged and remanded.
They asked his team for any incidents that occurred which may assist the criminal investigation and referred to the case as being “Wayne Couzens 2”.
Information gleaned from his colleagues led to a misconduct hearing last month in which PC Watson was given a three-year written warning.
The misconduct panel found he had acted inappropriately towards a number of young female officers, causing them to feel uncomfortable.
PC Watson denied the allegations but the panel concluded: “On multiple occasions PC Watson acted inappropriately, unwisely and in a manner which placed his needs above his responsibilities to his colleagues.
“The panel noted that there was a power imbalance between PC Watson and his mentees.
“In particular they were young females with far less experience than him, who PC Watson accepted achieved enhanced work by working collaboratively with him, while he owed a duty in his capacity as mentor.”
His actions included regularly commenting on his mentee’s clothing, legs and appearance, telling her she was attractive.
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However, the misconduct panel did find that PC Watson was a highly accomplished and experienced officer.
“He had clearly suffered enormously as a result of the DPS investigation, and the falsified allegation made against him, which he indicated had unleashed a tsunami,” the report states.
PC Watson had been an officer for two decades and at the time of the allegations was working with an undercover taskforce aimed at dismantling county lines gangs.
The panel concluded that a written warning would be appropriate as opposed to dismissal.
