A Metropolitan Police officer who tried to delete her fiancé’s nephew from a list of suspects being targeted by a flagship unit has been issued with a written warning.
Detective Constable Zainab Hussain failed to fully disclose her association with the man, a misconduct panel ruled.
But she was allowed to keep her job after the “honest” mistake and has learned a “salutary lesson”.
DC Hussain join Scotland Yard’s Predatory Offender Unit focused on London’s highest risk domestic abusers in November 2020.
She was responsible for developing a list of 20 nominals to be pursued for violence against women and girls.
On December 17, Hussain became aware her partner’s nephew was a “low risk” target.
She suggested he was removed and replaced by another name as the list had reached its maximum number.
The force claimed her behaviour was discreditable and a breach of honesty and integrity at a level of gross misconduct.
But DC Hussain told the hearing she had “nothing to gain from the removal of his name” as suspects do not know they are being monitored.
She had only met him once briefly in her boyfriend’s kitchen and, as a practising Muslim, DC Hussain was not allowed to speak to male members of his family.
Akbar Khan, who chaired the panel, found discreditable conduct at a misconduct level only.
He said her actions “in the knowledge he was her partner’s nephew lacked the necessary transparency and care that members of the public would expect from a serving officer”.
Mr Khan added the facts taken with strong character evidence “suggests that she acted honestly in making the suggestion”.
However, he concluded last month: “The officer let herself down and the public when she failed to fully disclose her association with [the man].
“Such conduct undermines public confidence in policing and also risks attracting unwanted and unnecessary suspicion on the valuable work being done by wider colleagues in the Met monitoring high-risk nominals who are perpetrators of domestic violence.
“The panel finds that these proceedings have been a salutary lesson for a junior officer who has faced a great deal of personal and professional challenges in her short career in the force.
“She has indicated her ambition to continue in the Met. The panel is confident that going forward she will adhere to the high standards of professional behaviour that the public expect from her and there is little risk of recurrence.”
DC Hussain had told Superintendent Daniel O’Sullivan - a mentor supporting her fast-track promotion - about the association.
He gave evidence that she was an articulate and professional person of whom he had no honesty and integrity concerns.
Line manager Detective Inspector Paul Oulson-Jenkins said an alleged conversation with him about her link to the suspect never happened.
But two other detectives in their small office recalled her mentioning the nephew.
Mr Khan said DC Hussain’s account of a chat with DI Oulson-Jenkins “is the more plausible one” and he is “mistaken”, however, she should have reminded him it needed to be declared on a form.
He added: “Despite being placed on restrictive duties she has continued to work conscientiously throughout the course of the misconduct proceedings hanging over her career. The officer is of previous good character.
“The panel has received several testimonials from across various ranks which speak of her professionalism, kindness and high standards of behaviour and her tireless efforts to improve diversity and inclusion within the Met.
“In this regard, the officer has created local borough guidance with a view to making the Met more welcoming to Muslim officers, particularly during the Ramadan period. This is to her credit.”
