Relationship between an officer and a member of the public - Metropolitan Police Service, December 2017

A Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer informed his supervisor that he had feelings for a woman he had met on his ward and wished to start a relationship with her. The MPS referred this to us as a conduct matter in December 2017.

During the investigation, investigators interviewed the police officer and took an account from the woman. They also examined records held by the MPS, reviewed the police officer’s mobile phone records and obtained statements from several police witnesses.

The evidence obtained by the investigation indicated that the officer had a sexual relationship with the woman, whom he had come into contact with in the course of his duties as a safer neighbourhood officer.

Our investigation found evidence that he had first met the woman in a professional capacity, and that it was years later that the relationship developed into a sexual one, and after the officer had spoken to his supervisor about his feelings for the woman. At the time the investigators spoke to the woman, the relationship had ended.

The records held by the MPS suggested the woman might have been vulnerable. The evidence suggested the officer had no knowledge that the woman might be considered to be vulnerable. When speaking to our investigators, the woman said that she did not consider herself as vulnerable and had not disclosed anything to the officer that may cause him to think that she was.

Based on the evidence available we were of the opinion that a reasonable tribunal, properly directed, could not find a case to answer for the officer for breaching the honesty and integrity standard of professional behaviour, or for abusing his position or damaging the reputation of the police service.

After reviewing our report the MPS agreed. They confirmed that the officer is now fully aware of the relevant MPS policies, procedures and legislation regarding developing, maintaining and reporting of ‘improper’ relationships, and that he will ensure that he strictly adheres to them in future.