Police accused of 'homophobic assumptions' over victims of blackmail on Grindr

Warning: this story contains troubling information and references to suicide. The BBC will tell you that a gang was blackmailing blackmailers on the gay dating app Grindr. We've found five instances of suspected blackmail involving victims on Grindr in one district, with at least four of them linked to the same group, which is still on the run. In one instance, a convicted man killed himself 24 hours after a group of men showed up at his house demanding that he hand over his new Range Rover. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog has told Hertfordshire Police, the investigating force, that the investigation has found that homophobic beliefs may have resulted in the investigation's failures. Hertfordshire Police said it was unable to comment on specific points in the investigation, which has now been reopened, but it has pledged to "fostering and maintaining positive working relationships with the LGBTQ+ groups. The family of another gay man who died after being attacked on Grindr has been interviewed by the BBC, according to the BBC. Charities claim that there can be a lack of knowledge when it comes to crimes affecting the LGBTQ+ group.

'It's a total blur'

Cameron Tewson was at his partner Scott Gough's home in Chandler's Cross, Hertfordshire, when a group of six men appeared and demanded the keys to Mr Gough to his new vehicle in March 2024. As Mr Tewson called the police and warned a neighbor, the gang, who Mr Tewerson described as white and in their mid-20s, fled. However, they left behind a note addressed to Mr Gough's car, which also included the number plate and phone number. I think it's in your best interest to call me.When Mr Gough, 56, arrived home, he was reluctant to talk about the incident and insisted he deal with the police directly,

Mr Tewson said. Mr Tewson believes his partner, who worked at a car dealership, was attempting to deny that he had been using Grindr, a dating service that Mr Gough had used numerous times in the past.

I know who they were,the 32-year-old said, and he kept it from me.He discovered a handwritten version of Mr Gough's last will and testament on the phone to police, discovering his partner's body in his bedroom the next day. Mr Gough died as a result of asphyxiation, according to a coroner later. An inquest into the full circumstances surrounding his death is still open. It's a total blur, Mr Tewson said.

The police were on hand, and the neighbors were there. It was almost like I was watching it happen to someone else.

When he told investigators that his boyfriend was using Grindr without his knowledge,

Mr Tewson said, the officers' attitudes had changed.

I felt like it was just complete disregard

when it came up in conversations. The phone number used by the gang at the time of Mr Gough's death was already known to police and had been involved in at least one investigation into suspected blackmail involving the use of Grindr, according to police. They also show that officers were able to track down a criminal's registration number to find a perpetrator, but that the men identified were never arrested as potential criminals. No DNA or fingerprints were found on the note, and police didn't take away the garbage left on the scene by the gang for DNA testing. Following the blackmail attempt, there were no arrests made. Mr Tewson has since notified the force's occupational standards service and the IOPC about the case's handling. The IOPC's report found that Mr Gough's attempted blackmailing and potential links to his death had not been

fully investigated,

and that subsequent reports about the probe were also mishandled. Following Mr Gough's death, the police made

several mistakes

in response to his death, according to the court, who

did not investigate [his] sudden death completely as a result. The paper also contained a number of details about the suspected gang and how widespread their alleged crimes were. It was revealed: The IOPC has requested Hertfordshire Police to re-examine parts of Mr Gough's investigation into his death, as well as the force's handling of Mr Tewson's complaint. Following the IOPC's instructions, a spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said it was

impossible to comment on Mr Tewson's allegation because

additional conduct is being investigated

following the investigation According to Supt Owen Pyle, Hertfordshire Constabulary's LGBTQ+ strategic lead, the group is

committed to eliminating discrimination

against the LGBTQ+ group and that it wants to make complainants feel welcome to approach the service. Suspicious victims of crime will be

considered seriously and treated with compassion," he said.

'He was just my rock, and he was gone'

Charities have claimed that the true number of crimes on dating applications such as Grindr is difficult to determine, and that police responses to such crimes can be elusive. We know there are good police officers, Bridget Symonds, the head of LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop, said,

but it really is a lottery and it depends on who you're dealing with and where you are in the country.

There are no official statistics to show how many dating app crimes are reported each year. The family of another man who died after being blackmailed on Grindr was also interviewed by the BBC. Liam McHale, a Buckinghamshire fashion student, lived just 15 miles from Mr Gough. The 24-year-old was discovered dead nine weeks after Mr Gough's death, after researching fatal doses of drugs online and leaving behind a note. He told friends that a man he had been blackmailed by a guy who was falsely claiming to be underage the night before his death. Mr McHale called the police to report it, but the police told him he'd been drinking on a night out, but they advised him not to write a report until the next day. Julie Rice Rice's mother, Julie Rice, told BBC News:

I told him I loved him, that he'd done the right thing, and that if anything else happened, he should call me. And that was the last time I spoke to him.

She received a call from one of Mr McHale's friends who had visited his house and discovered his body in the toilet the next morning. No, no, no. was all I could say. ' It was just a blur. He was my rock, and he was gone, she said. Mr McHale died as a result of asphyxiation and multiple opioid intoxication after recent concerns in his personal life, according to a coroner's report later. The coroner delivered an inconclusive verdict on whether or not he had intended to commit suicide. Mrs Rice also suspects that her son's case was not investigated properly by police. According to emails seen by the BBC, it took Thames Valley Police, the force investigating the death, more than 18 months for the police to have permission to examine Mr McHale's phone or laptop for evidence. We haven't had any correct answers, she said, but the police have told me he is not the only one feared. It just looks like it's been swept under the rug.No arrests have been made in connection with Mr McHale's death. Mr McHale and Mr Gough were both feared by the same group, but BBC News has been unable to determine if Mr Mchale or Mr Grough were attacked by According to Thames Valley Police, an investigation into blackmail is ongoing and that probes are ongoing. In June 2024, the service made a mandatory transfer to the IOPC because Mr McHale had been in touch with police before his death. No further action was required to be taken, according to the IOPC, and no further investigation was required. A Thames Valley Police spokesperson told the BBC that the case had not received a formal complaint, but that it would be "inappropriate to report individual grievances outside of the formal complaints process.

'Not easy crimes to solve'

Dating services had been found wanting in their reaction to offences being carried out on their websites, according to Natalie Sherborn, head of White-collar Defence and Investigations at law firm Withers.

Romance theft, bullying, or blackmail are not difficult to solve,

she said.

There is a digital footprint, but it isn't always straightforward. It can be very difficult to decode the reports in order to determine who is behind it and find out who is responsible.

She suggested that apps gather more details about their users' identities in order to rule out bad actors, but that any updates must include privacy concerns. According to a spokesperson for Grindr, the company works diligently to create a safe environment, which includes cooperating with UK law enforcement.

Identity verification can be a safety issue for individuals who are not out at work, live with unsupportive families, or face discrimination.

We design our systems intentionally to reduce data collection while still supporting law enforcement investigations.

We work closely with members of the LGBTQ+ community, having regular meetings with representatives from various companies to discuss our work and better understand their questions.

Our thoughts with Mr Gough's family, loved ones, and all those who have been affected by his tragic death persist. We are completely sympathetic with their need to respond to questions regarding Mr Gough's death and their desire to be respected and understood. "If you're interested in any of the topics in this , you can find information and assistance on theBBC Actionline website. Get all the headlines you need to start the day with our flagship newsletter. Sign up here.