One of the most powerful leaders in UK policing has been suspended after being placed under criminal investigation over two allegations of sexual touching. PC John Apter was on Tuesday suspended as chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), which represents 130,000 rank and file officers. He faces a disciplinary investigation into four allegations of gross misconduct. Of those four allegations, two have been deemed as warranting a criminal investigation. Apter is an officer with the Hampshire force, which also suspended him from duty as a PC on Monday. Two of the incidents for which he is under criminal investigation are alleged to have occurred in October this year, and on 9 December, at the Police Bravery awards in central London. The complaints were made first to the Hampshire force. They referred it to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is carrying out an independent investigation. Apter was elected as chair of the national federation in April 2018 and was due to stand down next year. Prior to that, Apter was chair of the Hampshire Police Federation, and has served as an officer for 29 years, joining in 1992. In a statement the IOPC said: “We can confirm that, on Friday 17 December, we received a referral relating [to] a police constable from Hampshire constabulary and we have started an independent investigation. “On Monday 20 December, the officer was served with a notice of investigation for potential breaches of police professional standards relating to four separate alleged incidents. “They were also advised they are subject to criminal investigation, for sexual touching contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, in relation to two of those alleged incidents.” The criminal offence occurs if touching occurs without consent and is intentional. In a statement, the Police Federation said Apter would be suspended as chair because of the allegations and his suspension as a Hampshire officer. Vice-chair Ché Donald, a former firearms officer, will be the interim chair. In a statement the Federation said: “We have been informed that the National Chair of the Police Federation has been suspended from duty by Hampshire police whilst an investigation is undertaken. “As a result he is also currently suspended from his current PFEW role. PFEW has acted as swiftly as possible in conjunction with the force.” Apter’s home force of Hampshire said: “Following the statement from the IOPC, we can confirm that the officer has been suspended. We assess each case based on the information provided to us.” The news comes after women’s confidence in policing was damaged after the conviction of Metropolitan police PC Wayne Couzens for the murder of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped as she walked home in March 2021 in south London. It triggered a debate on policing and misogyny, with Apter saying police had to improve. A fortnight ago, Apter said: “I love policing and the people within it. I’m proud to carry a warrant card and privileged to do the role I do on behalf of those fantastic men and women in blue who I represent.” Since 2010 relations between the Conservative government and the Federation had been strained as officer numbers and budgets were been cut. Relations improved just after Apter became chair as the cuts began to be reversed. But the Federation and Apter declared no confidence in the home secretary, Priti Patel, after officers were this year refused a pay increase. The Federation felt its hard work during the pandemic merited recognition. Apter said in July: “You cannot pat our members on the back for their heroic efforts with one hand, while effectively taking their pay with the other. Warm words are no longer enough.”