Barney Davis
Published December 1, 2025 6:26pm
Updated December 1, 2025 6:26pm
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Rob Cousen retired in disgrace to avoid a disciplinary hearing which concluded he was guilty of gross misconduct (Picture: GMP)
A top police officer sent pictures of his penis and face to a female PC and begged to meet up with her outside of work after he got hold of her personal number.
Rob Cousen, who rose to become the commander of Greater Manchester Police’s Tameside division, took early retirement just hours before a disciplinary hearing concluded that he was to be sacked.
The brave victim came forward and reported Chief Superintendent Cousen after he sent her unsolicited photographs to her between February and May 2022.
The panel found evidence that top cop earning £100,000-a-year did this on more than two occasions but Cousen denied it took place for two years.
The panel found that Chf Supt Cousen would have been dismissed had he not retired from the force just ten hours before. (Picture: Getty Images)
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Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said Cousen’s actions w’ere totally out of order’.
He said: ‘Frankly, this behaviour is far from the standard expected of any GMP officer, but particularly one who holds a rank where strong and professional leadership is the most fundamental requirement. Leadership without the best in quality, standards and behaviour is not leadership fit for the GMP of today.
‘I want to pay tribute to the female officer for having the courage to come forward and report this.’
Former Chief Constable Debbie Tedds found the behaviour amounted to gross misconduct and ordered Cousen’s name to be added to the College of Policing Barred List at a disciplinary hearing on Monday.
The panel found that Cousen would have been dismissed had he not retired from the force just ten hours before.
Police watchdog director Amanda Rowe, from the IOPC, said: ‘As a senior officer, former Cousen knew perfectly well the standards of professional behaviour expected of him, whether on or off duty.
‘His actions were an abuse of his position, which must have been deeply unpleasant for the officer he targeted, and also seriously risks damaging the public’s confidence in policing.’
She added: ‘The seriousness of Ch Supt Cousen’s actions were exacerbated by his senior rank and level of responsibility. His behaviour was entirely unacceptable and he has been rightly barred from working in policing again.
‘It is deeply frustrating that he chose to continue to deny the allegations for two years following our investigation, considerably delaying this outcome, only to admit what he had done at the last moment.’
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