PC is accused of sexual advances towards colleague
Misconduct panel held behind closed doors
A police officer has been accused of unwanted sexual advances towards a colleague.
The case of gross misconduct against PC John Hetterley was heard behind closed doors at Kent Police headquarters in Maidstone this week after the press was barred from attending.
The officer, who served in the County Town, is alleged to have directed his attentions towards the colleague, leading to her making it clear to him in November 2018 that she did not wish for a sexual relationship with him, submissions outlined to the police panel reveal. However, details of the alleged misconduct released prior to this week’s three-day hearing accuse PC Hetterley of continuing to encourage a sexual relationship, both in person and over social media.
It is alleged the harassment of the colleague even took place while he was on duty.
In a statement prior to the hearing, which began on Monday, Kent Police said: “The actions of PC Hetterley caused the female colleague to become very distressed and are alleged to have contributed to serious damage to her wellbeing.
“It is alleged that the matters set out above are breaches of the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Authority, Respect and Courtesy and Discreditable Conduct, and are so serious as to justify dismissal.” Police forces have been required to hold disciplinary hearings in public since May 2015, when new regulations were brought in by then-Home Secretary Theresa May.
Such hearings are usually held openly, allowing the press to
report on the proceedings. On its website, the publicly-accountable authority states: “The purpose of a public hearing is to show that our disciplinary system is open and transparent. “It will demonstrate that we do hold officers who breach the standards of professional behaviour, or those where misconduct is found proven, accountable for their actions.”
Despite lodging a request to be allowed to attend this week’s
hearing into the allegations made against PC Hetterley, the Kent Messenger was refused so as to “ensure the welfare of those actually attending is protected”.
The decision was challenged unsuccessfully, with Kent Police’s professional standards committee stating “there are no provisions in the regulations for the media to make representations on whether a hearing is held in private or public.”