Gross misconduct verdict for former officer after sexual relationship with abuse victim
A force has banned a former officer from ever working in policing again after he had sex with a vulnerable witness, despite having resigned during the investigation.
The unnamed Dorset Police officer met the woman while investigating a road traffic collision in 2017. Through initial inquiries he became aware that she was a victim of domestic abuse – but just days later began communicating privately with her, leading to a sexual relationship.
The officer resigned before the investigation into his actions could conclude, but regulations introduced last year allowed it to continue.
A misconduct hearing held last week has now found he breached standards of professional behaviour.
He has been placed on the police barred list, preventing him from working in the police service again.
Dorset Police Chief Constable Debbie Simpson said: “I believe it is untenable, had the officer still been serving, to continue to hold the position of constable within the police service and I believe I would have been supported in that assertion by members of the public.
“I have concluded on the balance of probabilities that the former officer’s conduct constitutes gross misconduct and that the appropriate outcome would have been dismissal, if he had still been a member of this police force.”