Hampshire police officer dismissed after gross misconduct hearing

A Hampshire Constabulary officer has been dismissed without notice after a disciplinary hearing was told he had inappropriately pursued relationships with several woman he met on duty.

The outcome follows an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Our ten-month investigation began following a referral from Hampshire Constabulary, after the force had carried out investigative work into concerns reported by women about the police constable’s behaviour towards them. Evidence they gathered formed the basis of the IOPC investigation. The officer cannot be named following a direction by the disciplinary panel.

Evidence indicated that the officer had inappropriately pursued relationships with two vulnerable women he met during the course of his duties, and that in doing so he had misused their contact details.

The officer was also accused of trying to set up a date with a woman after attending an incident she had been involved in.

The force agreed with our conclusion that the officer had a case to answer for gross misconduct for breaching professional standards of authority, respect and courtesy; confidentiality, and discreditable conduct.

After a gross misconduct hearing organised by Hampshire Constabulary, which finished on 27 April, the independently chaired panel found the allegations against him proven and he was dismissed. He will now be placed on a list of former officers who are barred from working for the police service in the future.

Delivering the outcome, the panel chair said the officer’s conduct revealed a troubling pattern of behaviour, and that such behaviour risked seriously undermining public trust in the police service.

IOPC Regional Director Graham Beesley said: “The officer should have known that inappropriately pursuing relationships in the way that he did was a clear breach of the professional boundaries that exist between police and members of the public. It was an abuse of authority, exacerbated by the fact that the officer knew two of the women had vulnerabilities.

“The panel’s decision shows that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”

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Notes for Editors:

All enquiries should be made to the IOPC media office on 0121 673 3744.