UNBELIEVABLE

ONE of Britain's top child protection officers has quit the police in disgust after being charged with assaulting a teenage girl.

Det Supt John Fox, 49, who has served for 32 years and lectured all over the world on child protection issues, approached a gang of youths over a stone-throwing attack on his car.

Now he has been left "devastated" as, incredibly, he faces trial accused of grabbing a girl.

DS Fox was one of four experts appointed by Lord Herbert Laming to sit on the panel which uncovered how schoolgirl Victoria Climbie - who was killed by her abusive relatives - was failed by the system.

Last night one Hampshire officer said: "John Fox is one of our best and most experienced policeman and we cannot afford to lose good people like him.

"It is a terrible state of affairs when he is facing court charges for reacting to teenagers throwing stones at his car.

"Because everyone in officialdom is so paranoid these days, his reputation is being questioned. It is simply political correctness gone mad.

"John has had enough. And who can blame him."

DS Fox has been on leave since the incident and will retire next week. But a friend of the officer said: "There's no doubt that he would still be working had he not been charged."

The incident is alleged to have taken place near his home in Southampton while he was off duty in May this year.

It is understood that DS Fox was driving when his car was hit by stones. He stopped and saw a group of youths.

He insists he simply "remonstrated" with them but a complaint from a teenage girl was investigated and DS Fox was charged with two counts of common assault.

He appeared at Chichester Magistrates' Court on October 28 when he pleaded not guilty. The case has been adjourned for trial next July.

Jan Berry, chairwoman of the Police Federation, said: "This sends out a bad message to police officers.

"If we lose somebody of Det Supt Fox's experience because he is not being treated in an even handed way then questions need to be asked.

"Policemen and women face daily abuse and when they react to calm the situation they can find themselves on a charge sheet. It is a difficult situation."

In a statement Hampshire Police said: "DS John Fox's decision to retire is unconnected to the incident for which court proceedings are ongoing."

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