Inappropriate relationship with a vulnerable person – Hertfordshire Constabulary, October 2018

On 10 October 2018 several disclosures were made to Hertfordshire Constabulary by a vulnerable person alleging to have had an 11-year relationship with a serving police officer.

Contained within those disclosures were photographs of injuries allegedly caused by the officer.

Hertfordshire Constabulary made a referral and we began our independent investigation on 16 October 2018. We examined how the relationship started, the appropriateness of the relationship between the two people and whether the officer lied during disciplinary proceedings in 2013 regarding the relationship.

During our investigation the officer was arrested and interviewed, the vulnerable person was interviewed, and statements were taken from police and civilian witnesses. We also spoke with family members of the vulnerable person. Our investigators downloaded and examined data from devices and around 1,900 pages of police and medical documentation was analysed.

We concluded our investigation in June 2019 when we passed a copy of our investigation report and its findings to Hertfordshire Constabulary. The force agreed with us that the officer had a case to answer for gross misconduct.

After a thorough examination of all the evidence we also made a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service who decided to charge the officer with the offence of Misconduct in Public Office. The officer pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 months in prison on 17 July 2020.

Following the conclusion of the criminal proceedings against the officer, Hertfordshire Constabulary arranged for a special case hearing which heard the evidence against the officer for alleged breaches in the standards of professional behaviour. The case against the officer was proven and the officer was dismissed without notice.