Former police officer barred from policing following gross misconduct hearing

A former undercover police officer who inappropriately touched a colleague on three occasions and failed to disclose a phone call which compromised her role would have been dismissed had she not already resigned, a panel overseeing a gross misconduct hearing has ruled.

The former officer, known during the hearing as former PC X due to the risk to her safety identifying her would cause, was found to have committed gross misconduct following a hearing at Police Headquarters which concluded today (Friday 9 October).

The panel presiding over the hearing heard how former PC X was a Care and Welfare Officer for another undercover officer, known during the hearing as Officer A. As part of this role, she was responsible for Officer A’s security and welfare.

On 5 August 2023, former PC X touched Officer A inappropriately on two occasions while drunk at a wedding and again at a party later the same month. She also made an inappropriate comment about Officer A’s clothing on another occasion on an unknown date that summer.

On 25 August 2023, former PC X claimed to colleagues she received a phone call from someone she believed to be Officer A, in which he told her he had feelings for her. Officer A denied being the caller and investigators were not able to confirm the call had even been made.

The panel heard former PC X should have reported the call to her supervisors due the risk it could have compromised her position as Officer A’s Care and Welfare Officer but failed to do so.

Former PC X resigned from Gloucestershire Constabulary during the Professional Standards Department investigation and did not attend the gross misconduct hearing.

After hearing the evidence, the panel determined former PC X had breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to Authority, Respect and Courtesy; Discreditable Conduct; Duties and Responsibilities; Honesty and Integrity; and Orders and Instructions. The panel concluded her behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, and she would have been dismissed without notice had she not already resigned.

Former PC X will now be added to the Police Barred List.

Deputy Chief Constable Katy Barrow-Grint said: “Former PC X repeatedly acted in a sexually inappropriate manner towards a colleague who she was meant to support.

“In failing to report the phone call she believed came from Officer A, she compromised her role as his Care and Welfare Officer which could potentially have put his safety at risk.

“Former PC X’s conduct is not befitting of an officer of Gloucestershire Constabulary and while she resigned prior to the gross misconduct hearing, she will no longer be able to work in policing again now that she has been placed on the barred list.”