Pcso sent ‘persistent, flirty’ texts to crime victim he met on duty
FOUND GUILTY OF GROSS MISCONDUCT AFTER HE SENT SERIES OF MESSAGES TO VULNERABLE WOMAN
A POLICE community support officer (Pcso) sent a series of flirty messages to a vulnerable woman he had met in the course of his duties.
Even though the woman, a victim of crime, asked him to stop, the officer continued to hassle her via Snapchat and Whatsapp, a Leicestershire Police internal disciplinary panel ruled.
The hearing, which was held in private, concluded that the officer was guilty of gross misconduct and would have been dismissed - had he not already resigned. Details of the case have been just been released by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The former Pcso has not been named, and no notice was given to the press and public that the hearing was taking place - as is the case with most misconduct matters involving police officers. A force spokesman said regulations relating to civilian members of staff, such as Pcsos, did not require forces to go public with information.
In a statement, the IOPC said the allegations against the former officer were set out at a disciplinary hearing on Thursday, June 30. It said: “We received a referral from the force about the officer’s alleged conduct in October 2021, and began an independent investigation. We examined whether he abused his position to attempt to pursue an improper or sexual relationship with the potentially vulnerable woman.
“He first met the woman during a call-out to her home after she reported anti-social behaviour in the surrounding area. Following this initial contact, the officer sent a variety of flirtatious and inappropriate messages to her via Snapchat and Whatsapp. It was evident from the Whatsapp messages that the officer was for some sort of relationship with her.
“Despite the woman’s attempts to ignore and block him, he persisted in trying to contact her via further social media channels. He also asked her not to report him for the messages.”
IOPC investigators concluded their inquiries in February, having assessed the phone data and witness interviews. They told Leicestershire Police they believed the officer had a case to answer for gross misconduct. Thursday’s disciplinary panel, chaired by a senior officer, agreed with that assessment, and concluded he would have been dismissed without notice had he not already resigned.
IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said: “Officers are dutybound to act with care and professionalism when interacting with members of the public and victims of crime. When any officer abuses their policing position for an improper purpose, they are carrying out a serious form of corruption.
“Such behaviour can have a devhoping astating impact on those involved and serious ramifications for the public’s confidence in the police service. The officer in this case made a conscious effort to try and start an inappropriate relationship with a woman he met through his duties.
“He used a variety of social media applications to send unwanted and persistent messages. In doing so, the disciplinary panel has determined he breached the standards of professional behaviour and that dismissal would have been merited.”
The officer’s name will be placed on the College of Policing’s list of former officers - both Pcsos and regulars - who are barred from working for the service.