A former police leader has been found to have committed gross misconduct after making a sexual remark about an officer’s widow. John Apter, the former chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, was alleged to have told colleagues he would like to “comfort” Lissie Harper in his hotel room, months after her husband Andrew’s death. Hampshire constabulary disciplinary tribunal ruled on Friday that Apter had committed gross misconduct by making the sexualised comment. Apter was also alleged to have said in reference to Harper: “I wouldn’t mind looking after her tonight.” He was cleared of telling a pregnant woman “maybe you’ll get a bum now” in early 2019. That woman told the hearing that Apter was the victim of a witch-hunt and was a “really nice guy”. He was also cleared of touching a younger female colleague’s bottom. Apter told the hearing he had just scratched her back after she complained it was itchy. PC Andrew Harper, who served with the Thames Valley force, died after being dragged for more than a mile behind a car in August 2019 after trying to thwart the theft of a quad bike four weeks after his wedding. His feet became trapped in a tow rope attached to a car used by the thieves and he died from his injuries. Lissie Harper was made an MBE in 2022 for her campaign to strengthen the law in his memory, which was known as Harper’s Law. The panel ruled that Apter’s name would automatically be added to the College of Policing’s list of barred officers for at least five years since since his retirement in April 2022 during the investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The tribunal’s legally qualified chair, Giles Pengelly said: “We have concluded that if Mr Apter were a serving officer, the least sanction would be dismissal, on account that he is no longer a serving officer and is an ex-officer, the appropriate sanction would be dismissal without notice.” Cecily White, representing the Hampshire constabulary, said Apter’s comment was “lewd” and “clearly sexually suggestive, demeaning and derogatory about women”. She said that, because of his high-profile position, Apter had a “responsibility to set a good example” to other officers and added: “It’s of particular concern that police officers deal respectfully with women, particularly in front of other policing colleagues.” She said: “This is really about the damage to public trust and confidence in policing, and the discredit it could bring on the service and hampering the good work of other officers up and down the country.” Ailsa Williamson, representing Apter, said that, after Harper was informed of the comment, “her observation was that she was surprised by the allegation because John Apter had only been professional and kind to her on the handful of occasions she had met him”. Williamson said Apter had been a “strong advocate for female rights”, adding: “He is not someone who has displayed sexual attitudes.” She said: “You are dealing with an officer of 30 years of exceptional service and it was his dedication to policing that led to a deterioration in his health and the decision he shouldn’t stand for a second term of chair of the Police Federation.” Pengelly said of Apter’s conduct: “We find the comment made about Lissie Harper proved and is proved to the level of gross misconduct.” The panel, sitting at Hampshire constabulary’s strategic headquarters in Eastleigh, ruled that Apter had made the comment about Harper in a staff “huddle” during preparations for the annual Roads Policing Conference awards ceremony in January 2020. Apter had denied the three allegations, which followed an investigation ordered by the IOPC. He was suspended by the Police Federation, and suspended from duty by Hampshire constabulary, in December 2021. Apter entered policing in 1992 and had spoken out against the use of sexist nicknames in 2021 after the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer. He wrote in the Sunday Times: “Misogyny is not just a problem for women, it’s a problem for us all. Far too often there is silence when this takes place, and through this inaction, we are failing each other and wider society. “We need to consign to the history books some of our canteen culture where sexist nicknames and derogatory remarks are made. When banter crosses the line to become sexist, derogatory or homophobic, that’s when it ceases to be banter.” He told the hearing that he had challenged inappropriate behaviour by officers and stood by his public comments about misogyny. The hearing heard that the former federation official Jamie Simpson had talked of “blatant hypocrisy” at the top of the organisation. He said: “On one hand they preach to members about sexism and misogyny, yet some of the things I have overheard … the same people say about women associated with the organisation, even the widow of an officer, is sickening.” The IOPC’s regional director, Mel Palmer, said Apter’s comment “was wholly inappropriate and it’s this type of behaviour that undermines public confidence in policing, particularly amongst women”. Hampshire police’s deputy chief constable, Sam de Reya, said: “What we have heard during this hearing about inappropriate comments and behaviours is deeply troubling. The fact this was by someone who publicly represented police officers nationally and was seen as a role model by so many makes this even more damaging for policing. “There is absolutely no place for this behaviour and we all have a responsibility to call this out so that our communities can have complete trust in us to always act with the highest of standards.”