A former police officer who was cleared by a jury over a declare he tried to movie a unadorned feminine colleague as she showered on the power’s headquarters is now dealing with a misconduct listening to.
Jonathan Eaton, 33, had been suspended from his position inside Gloucestershire Constabulary since being cleared of a felony cost at Newport Crown Courtroom final yr.
He had denied a single rely of voyeurism on February 27, 2019, and was acquitted following a six-day trial.
A disciplinary listening to, which started on Monday, was instructed Mr Eaton had formally resigned from Gloucestershire Constabulary and that he wouldn’t be attending or taking an lively position in proceedings.
Presiding counsel Gerard Boyle QC instructed the listening to that, because of laws in 2017, former officers may nonetheless face misconduct proceedings after leaving respective their power.
He mentioned: ‘Nonetheless the outcomes at the moment are restricted as a result of he’s a former officer and people outcomes are decided by whether or not there’s a discovering of misconduct or gross misconduct.
‘If there’s a discovering of misconduct simpliciter, the panel would report that reality and take no additional motion.
PC Jonathan Eaton pictured arriving at Newport Crown Courtroom on April 12 final yr, the place he was cleared by a jury of voyeurism
‘If there was a discovering of gross misconduct the panel can contemplate solely two doable outcomes – both take no disciplinary motion or take disciplinary motion which suggests making a discovering {that a} former officer would have been dismissed had he nonetheless been a serving member of the power.’
The listening to’s chair, Peter Cadman, mentioned the laws gave the panel jurisdiction to proceed in Mr Eaton’s absence.
Mr Boyle QC mentioned the power believes Mr Eaton breached police requirements {of professional} behaviour, honesty and integrity and didn’t carry out his duties consciously and diligently – failings he says quantity to gross misconduct.
He mentioned the preliminary incident is alleged to have taken place within the unisex altering rooms of Gloucestershire Constabulary’s headquarters on February 27, 2019.
A girl, known as Witness A within the listening to, was utilizing the bathe as a part of her each day routine at round 7.25am when she observed a particular cellphone being held beneath the partition, the panel heard.
Mr Boyle QC added: ‘It’s alleged that Mr Boyle tried to make use of his cellphone underneath the bathe partition and observe or report the feminine colleague having a shower. When he left the cubicle he was challenged by the girl and she or he made an allegation that he was utilizing his cellphone to movie her.
‘After he left the altering room space, and previous to being arrested, he made searches on the web about cell phone use and carried out a manufacturing unit reset, wiping his cellphone and deleting his internet looking historical past.
The headquarters of Gloucestershire Constabulary, the place the alleged incident is alleged to have taken place
‘As a serving police officer he would have been effectively conscious of the forensic and evidential significance of his cellphone being maintained because it was following such an allegation being made.
‘He intentionally interfered along with his cellphone which he knew could be an vital piece of proof and doubtlessly an exhibit.
‘Briefly, he acted in a deplorable style, totally out of holding with the excessive requirements of behaviour anticipated of law enforcement officials.’
The misconduct panel heard that the major function of disciplinary procedures was to to not punish officers, however to protect public confidence within the repute of the police service by holding officers accountable and making it clear that improper behaviour doesn’t go unchecked.
Mr Boyle QC added: ‘This will even preserve excessive requirements by demonstrating that misconduct is not going to be tolerated.
‘A 3rd side will imply that the general public shall be protected by not permitting an officer to commit related misconduct once more by excluding them from the police service.’
Mr Eaton denies the fees. The listening to continues.