A police officer who pursued a sexual relationship with a home abuse sufferer and texted her as much as 50 messages a day has been sacked for ‘undermining the belief of ladies within the police service’.
The Hampshire Constabulary constable, whose identification was withheld by the tribunal panel, was discovered to have dedicated gross misconduct by way of 5 breaches of rules for his ‘inappropriate contact’ with the ‘extremely susceptible’ girl.
The breaches by the Portsmouth-based officer included deleting messages to cowl up the contact, asking the lady out for cocktails and accessing the drive’s pc system with no policing goal.
Handing down the sanction of dismissal with out discover, legally certified chair Sarah Gaunt informed the listening to the officer’s actions had been ‘intentional and deliberate’ and his conduct was a ‘elementary breach of public belief.’
However the panel dominated that the officer ought to stay nameless ‘to guard their welfare’.
The Hampshire Constabulary constable was discovered to have dedicated gross misconduct by way of 5 breaches of rules for his ‘inappropriate contact’ with the home abuse sufferer. Pictured: Hampshire Constabulary HQ in Winchester
Ms Gaunt informed the listening to on the drive HQ in Eastleigh: ‘The panel finds Officer A was ready of belief.
‘Officer A had a accountability to supply assist and assurance to a susceptible, if not extremely susceptible, home abuse sufferer.
‘The officer had just lately attended home abuse coaching and change into a home abuse champion and will have been conscious of the implications of his actions.
‘His actions had been intentional and deliberate. The conduct was a elementary breach of public belief.’
Ms Gaunt added that the actions of Officer A undermined the status of Hampshire Constabulary and policing usually, notably by susceptible victims, particularly ladies.
She mentioned Officer A had additionally prompted psychological misery to the lady.
Ms Gaunt continued: ‘The panel has been conscious of the aim of those proceedings, which is to keep up public confidence in and the status of the police service and to uphold excessive skilled requirements.
‘Given this officer’s particular position, this panel’s choice is that the least extreme sanction that may be imposed is dismissal with out discover.’
Talking in a pre-recorded interview performed on the listening to, the lady described the officer as ‘always messaging’ her to verify she was OK.
She added: ‘I keep in mind him pointing on the market’s a bar or a restaurant… and he mentioned in textual content ‘When that is throughout, I’ll take you out for cocktails and cheer you up’.
‘If you invite somebody out for dinner and cocktails that is a date, that is not a traditional police factor to do… that is a date invitation.’
She mentioned she believed he had a ‘romantic curiosity’ in her.
The girl described being ‘naive’ and added: ‘I ought to have seen the flirtiness of it.’
Pictured: Barrister Sarah Gaunt, chair of the panel that determined the disgraced officer’s identify must be stored secret from the general public
The panel heard proof that the officer had despatched the lady 51 messages in a single day, and that texts would usually embody kisses and no less than as soon as the officer known as her ‘hun’.
The panel dominated that the officer couldn’t be named, saying in a press release: ‘Media are unable to determine Officer A as a reporting restriction was put in place.
‘The choice has been made primarily based upon a assessment of medical proof which helps the requirement for the officer to stay nameless with the intention to defend their welfare.’
Responding to the case, Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs, of Hampshire Police, mentioned: ‘There isn’t a place in policing for individuals who use their place to abuse the belief positioned in us by susceptible members of the general public.
‘The actions of this officer not solely let down the lady he was supposed to guard, but additionally undermines the distinctive work his colleagues do each day to maintain individuals protected.
‘Our communities can have belief and confidence that such inappropriate behaviour in our workforce is rooted out and that we’re a drive that serves with respect, integrity and with out concern or favour.’