Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Thursday 17th April 2025 at 07:30hrs
Detective Sergeant Richard Mills has been dismissed from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and barred from ever working in law enforcement again following an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing today (Wednesday, April 16, 2025).
The decision comes after Mills was found guilty by a jury in December last year of two counts of sexual assault and subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison.
The convictions relate to two separate incidents of forceful sexual touching in 2016 and 2020. In both instances, Mills, who was based in GMP’s Oldham District and later in the Serious Crime Directorate at Nexus House, grabbed his co-worker’s hand and forced them to touch his genitals over his trousers.
GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate initially began investigating Mills in 2016 after receiving a report from a member of staff.
Their attention was drawn back to him in March 2023 following numerous complaints about inappropriate sexual comments he made in an open working environment within earshot of several colleagues.
Following this later incident, detectives from the Professional Standards Directorate interviewed 37 police officers and staff who had worked alongside Mills, gathering testimonies and significant evidence that supported the criminal proceedings against him.
In addition to the offences he was convicted of, the misconduct hearing also considered numerous other allegations made against Mills, which were found to amount to breaches of GMP’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Behaviour.
Detective Superintendent David Jones, from GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, expressed his dismay at Mills’ actions.
“Our investigation into DS Mills uncovered alarming circumstances, whereby he preyed on women in the workplace who were simply just trying to do their jobs,” he said.
“Mills sexually assaulted his colleagues, made inappropriate remarks of a sexual nature, and acted in a disgraceful manner. He abused his position in the force and the trust of his colleagues for his own perverse gratification.”
DS Jones acknowledged the impact of Mills’ behaviour on his colleagues. “Mill’s actions continue to have an adverse impact on many of our staff and officers who have been offered specialist support.”
Despite Mills already serving a prison sentence, DS Jones emphasized the importance of the misconduct hearing.
“Irrespective of Mills inevitably being dismissed, given he is rightly currently serving a prison sentence as a convicted sex offender, it was important we still hold these proceedings to ensure he is not only dismissed from GMP but also placed on the barred list. Mills will never work in law enforcement again.”
He added: “It is our hope today’s outcome provided closure to those who may have been seeking it, as well as reassurance that when allegations are raised, they will be thoroughly investigated and outcomes pursued.”
DS Jones concluded with a strong condemnation of Mills’ behaviour:
“The actions of Mill’s are reprehensible, and there is no place for him in policing. We are committed to upholding the highest professional standards, and our dedicated team investigating internal matters are working tenaciously to root out offenders like Mills, who are interfering with the safety of our workplaces and unworthy of serving the public as part of Greater Manchester Police.”
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