Final written ‘improper’ with women

offer her support at first, but they later held private conversations via FaceTime.

These exchanges became personal and “emotional” and, at one point, she told him she loved him, the panel said.

It censured him for not telling the force about this and said he should have recognised the woman was vulnerable and he had a “duty of care” towards her.

The panel found he had breached “professional standards of integrity, authority, respect and courtesy”.

But in its ruling, the panel said: “We consider that in many respects this officer has a great deal to contribute to policing, in terms of his skills and experience, and the public would be content to know these have not been lost to the police service.

“Most importantly, we consider that the public protection purpose can be satisfied because no member of the public was actually harmed, and the risk of this type of conduct being repeated is minimal.

“What we have learned about him is he places great store in honesty and integrity, he is an officer who has good communication skills and attention to detail and, ironically, looks after witnesses.

“The fact so many people have been prepared to attest to his character is to his credit.

“There are references from females with whom he has had relationships in the past who are happy to speak well of him, and several people who have been happy for him to have relationships with their loved ones. It has to be said the women in question were perfectly willing to enter into a social or personal relationship with the officer and, importantly, there was no deception or coercion on his part.

“However, he can properly be regarded as having been in a position of trust with each woman, on the basis of his original professional role as officer in the case of their matters.

“That said, the matters with which he was entrusted were not actually compromised.”

The panel noted that neither woman believed the officer should have faced misconduct proceedings.

It said: “It is implicit in their engagement with the investigating authority that they do not view the officer in a negative light and have no real enthusiasm for this process.”

IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said: “The officer abused his position of trust to form improper relationships with two women.

“In one instance, while the panel accepted there had been a policing purpose during the officer’s initial contact with the woman, he later failed to maintain a professional boundary by developing a personal relationship with her.

“Similarly, he crossed that boundary while communicating via Facebook with another woman in circumstances when he ought to have known better.

“The panel’s decision shows this behaviour is unacceptable and is taken seriously, with significant repercussions.”