Former GMP special constable barred from police work following IOPC investigation

A former Greater Manchester Police (GMP) special constable who contacted a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat has been placed on the police barred list following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.

Gross misconduct was found against Michael Wallace, 30, following a hearing on Monday 8 February.

The ruling follows an IOPC investigation which began in February 2018 following a complaint from the girl’s father, who reported that Mr Wallace sent Snapchat messages to his daughter after encountering her and a group of friends while on an anti-social behaviour patrol in Wigan.

Our investigation found that Mr Wallace had sent three messages to the girl on Snapchat, including an inappropriate picture message. The girl told her father, who reported the matter to GMP. GMP then referred the matter to us.

On conclusion of the investigation, we sent our report to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who decided not to charge Mr Wallace.

We recommended that there was a case to answer for gross misconduct which the force agreed with. Mr Wallace resigned from his position before the gross misconduct hearing.

The panel found that the allegations were proven and that standards of professional behaviour for honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct contrary to the police conduct regulations 2012 were found to have been breached. They assessed that the conduct amounted to gross misconduct, and that dismissal would have been justified had the Mr Wallace not resigned. The panel made an order for the former special constable to be placed on the police barred list for life.

IOPC Regional Director Amanda Rowe said: “Mr Wallace’s actions were totally unacceptable and a direct breach of standards of professional behaviour. Mr Wallace made inappropriate contact with a 14-year-old girl he had met during the course of his duties, which included sending her a topless photo of him in bed.

“Mr Wallace has now been placed on the police barred list, which will prevent him from joining policing forces and policing bodies like HMICFRS, OPCCs and the IOPC for life. The ruling shows his actions have absolutely no place in policing.”