Officer sacked for `salvo of inappropriate texts and trying to kiss vulnerable victims`

A police officer with almost 30 years’ service has been dismissed after making sexual advances to two vulnerable victims and a female colleague. Police Constable Kevin Campbell bombarded the three women with hundreds of increasingly explicit text messages, and tried kissing the vulnerable victims of domestic violence when he visited their homes. He admitted abusing his position of trust as a police officer at a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct on Wednesday (September 13). The officer – who joined Merseyside Police in October 1990 – was not present at the special case hearing. The three victims were referred to as Miss A, Miss B, and Miss C. Representing Merseyside Police, Clare Hennessy said PC Campbell visited Miss A’s home twice, during which he asked her on a date and tried to kiss her. He also obtained her mobile phone number and sent her “inappropriate” personal text messages, which eventually became sexual. Ms Hennessy said Miss A felt “angry, betrayed and had lost faith in the police force” following his sexual advances. PC Campbell’s dealings with Miss B followed a similar pattern to that the first victim. Miss C was a fellow officer who was junior to PC Campbell in both age and service. Ms Hennessy said he had been “persistent” in his inappropriate behaviour towards her, sending 466 personal text messages and 999 WhatsApp messages, as well as trying to get her to change her shifts so she would be on duty at the same time as him. PC Campbell apologised and accepted his actions amounted to gross misconduct, but panel chair Robin Ince said only one outcome of the hearing was possible, and he was dismissed without notice. Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Cummings, from the force’s Professional Standards Department, said: “Merseyside Police demands the highest standards of professionalism and integrity from all its officers and support staff. “The public quite rightly have high expectations of police officers and Merseyside Police is committed to meeting those expectations.