A policeman who was a ‘domestic abuse champion’ within his force has been sacked after he pursued a relationship with a vulnerable victim.
The Hampshire Constabulary constable, who has had his identity protected, was dismissed for ‘undermining the trust of women in the police service’.
He was found to have committed gross misconduct through five breaches of regulations for ‘inappropriate contact’ with the ‘highly vulnerable’ woman.
His behaviour included asking her out for cocktails, texting her up to 50 times a day and accessing the force’s computer system without a policing purpose.
The Portsmouth-based officer also tried to cover up his contact with the woman by deleting messages.
A tribunal ruled that the officer should be dismissed without notice for ‘a fundamental breach of public trust’ – but decided to withhold his identity, allowing him to remain anonymous.
Sarah Gaunt, legally qualified chair of the panel, told the tribunal hearing at the Hampshire Constabulary HQ in Eastleigh: ‘The panel finds Officer A was in a position of trust.
‘Officer A had a responsibility to provide support and assurance to a vulnerable, if not highly vulnerable, domestic abuse victim.
‘The officer had recently attended domestic abuse training and become a domestic abuse champion and should have been aware of the consequences of his actions.
‘His actions were intentional and deliberate. The conduct was a fundamental breach of public trust.’
Ms Gaunt added that Officer A had not only undermined the reputation of Hampshire Constabulary but policing in general especially for vulnerable victims and women.
She said Officer A had caused psychological distress to the woman, and the panel decided that given the officer’s ‘specific role’ immediate dismissal was ‘the least severe sanction’ that could be imposed.
Giving evidence via a pre-recorded interview the woman who was the subject of the officer’s behaviour said he was ‘constantly messaging’ her to make sure she was OK.
She added: ‘I remember him pointing out there’s a bar or a restaurant… and he said in a text “When this is all over, I will take you out for cocktails and cheer you up.”
‘When you invite someone out for dinner and cocktails that’s a date, that’s not a normal police thing to do… that’s a date invitation.’
She said she believed he had a ‘romantic interest’ in her.
The woman described being ‘naive’ and added: ‘I should have seen the flirtiness of it.’
The panel heard evidence that the officer had sent the woman 51 messages in a single day, and that texts would often include kisses and at least once the officer called her ‘hun’.
The panel ruled that the officer should remain anonymous to ‘protect their welfare’.
Issuing a statement on the decision it said: ‘Media are unable to identify Officer A as a reporting restriction was put in place.
‘The decision has been made based upon a review of medical evidence which supports the requirement for the officer to remain anonymous in order to protect their welfare.’
Commenting on the case, Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs, of Hampshire Police, said: ‘There is no place in policing for those who use their position to abuse the trust placed in us by vulnerable members of the public.
‘The actions of this officer not only let down the woman he was supposed to protect, but also undermines the exceptional work his colleagues do every day to keep people safe.
‘Our communities can have trust and confidence that such inappropriate behaviour in our workforce is rooted out and that we are a force that serves with respect, integrity and without fear or favour.’
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