Sexualised text messages sent to member of public - Kent Police, May 2021

A Kent police constable was jailed in October 2023 for misconduct in public office for forming an inappropriate sexual relationship with a woman he met while on duty.

It follows our investigation into a police constable, who met the woman as part of his duties.

She had been arrested for an offence and, in December 2020, he was asked to supervise her while she was being treated at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

The officer initiated a sexualised conversation with the woman while in hospital and later contacted her via social media and they exchanged more sexualised text messages. The officer then went to her house where he acted in an unprofessional manner towards the woman.

The officer later confessed the relationship to his supervisors after the woman threatened to disclose it to his employer.

We began an investigation in May 2021 following a mandatory conduct referral from Kent Police earlier that month.

We looked at the circumstances surrounding the officer's initial and continued contact with the woman and whether his contact with her was in accordance with relevant legislation, local and national policies and procedures.

During our investigation, investigators interviewed the officer, examined his mobile phone and obtained statements or accounts from several witnesses, including the woman involved.

Our investigation concluded in April 2022 and we sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which authorised the charge of misconduct in public office.

The officer admitted the offence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 20 July and was sentenced on 4 October at Southwark Crown Court to six months’ in prison.

We also found the officer had a case to answer for gross misconduct and he was subject to an accelerated disciplinary hearing.

We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system, and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents. 

In this investigation, we did not identify any organisational learning.