A Metropolitan Police officer has been found to have displayed graphic images of a murdered and sexually assaulted teenager to colleagues for his own satisfaction, an inquiry revealed. Detective sergeant Jason Grafham possessed photos of Sally Anne Bowman, who was tragically killed in Croydon in 2005, with no legitimate law enforcement purpose.
The images depicted the victim, then 18 years old, unclothed and in a pool of blood after being attacked by a notorious serial rapist and murderer, Mark Dixie. Grafham was recently determined to have committed gross misconduct for exacerbating the emotional distress of Sally’s family by sharing the crime scene pictures with coworkers.
Following a hearing held at Palestra House in south London, the tribunal concluded that there was no valid reason for Grafham to retain or exhibit the images. Grafham, who retired just before the tribunal commenced, has been permanently banned from police service and was also found guilty of gross misconduct for making inappropriate and discriminatory remarks.
Chairman of the tribunal, Commander Paul Trevers, stated that Grafham would have faced dismissal if he had not already retired. The tribunal emphasized that Grafham had no justification for preserving or showing the photos and that his actions were highly disrespectful to the victim.
Moreover, evidence presented during the inquiry revealed that Grafham had made several sexually inappropriate and derogatory comments between March and December 2024. Colleagues testified to the veracity of these allegations, leading to a finding that most of the remarks were proven.
In response to the tribunal’s findings, detective chief superintendent Angela Craggs condemned Grafham’s actions as despicable and disrespectful, offering apologies to Sally Anne Bowman’s family for the additional anguish caused. Craggs emphasized that such behavior and language have no place within the organization and commended colleagues who reported their concerns.
