Policeman allowed to quit after witness affair

A police officer who had a sexual relationship with a female witness in a case he was handling has been allowed to resign from the force and has been protected with anonymity.

New rules imposed last year mean that officers who are under suspicion of committing an offence or of gross misconduct can be allowed to leave the police service during the course of the investigation.

The officer was found guilty at a private disciplinary hearing.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said the former officer’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct following a special case hearing.