Ex-GMP cop banned from policing after 'repeated' domestic abuse against her partner

A former Greater Manchester Police officer has been banned from the profession after subjecting her partner to 'sustained' abusive behaviour. Abigail Barlow resigned from her role as police constable three days after being sentenced by magistrates for coercive and controlling behaviour.

An accelerated misconduct hearing on Friday afternoon (July 21) heard that Barlow, 32, had caused 'serious psychological impact' to her victim. Barlow joined GMP on May 21, 2018, and quit on January 20 this year.

She pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour, carried out against her partner, at Mold Magistrates Court last December 13 and was sentenced on January 17. Magistrates handed Barlow a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, plus 30 days rehabilitation, 200 hours of unpaid work and a restraining order.

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Chief Constable Stephen Watson said her actions were 'incompatible with the role of police officer' and undermined public trust in the force. He said Barlow's behaviour amounted to gross misconduct and she would have been dismissed from the force had she not already quit.

Gareth Madgwick, the solicitor representing GMP, said Barlow 'must have known of the serious effect of her behaviour on her partner'. "There has been regular, repeated or sustained behaviour over a period of time," he said.

Mr Madgwick told the hearing Barlow's actions had left a 'serious psychological impact' on her victim, adding: "There is a loss of public trust in policing caused by an officer having been convicted of such a grave offence." Exact details of the nature of Barlow's offending were not disclosed in public at the hearing.

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