I CANNOT help but think that David Middleton (HAS, Nov 12) is being both naïve and disingenuous in castigating the victims of the former Cleveland Police inspector Simon Hurwood for not reporting his disgusting behaviour.
Naïve in suggesting that had they complained they would have been listened to.
The fact is that, in a male-dominated hierarchy like Cleveland Police, young trainee policewomen occupy a very lowly and devalued status. Had any one of them complained about Hurwood’s antics the chances are retribution would have followed, not against Hurwood but against the complainant.
Her subsequent career would doubtless have been short-lived and ignominious.
As for being disingenuous, that is what I would call any attempt to dilute the blame that belongs entirely upon Hurwood himself, and the set up in Cleveland Police.
The latter has been exposed time and time again as untrustworthy, dishonourable, mendacious and unfit for purpose.
Tony Kelly, Crook
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