MPS officer convicted of misconduct in a public office
A Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer has been convicted of misconduct in a public office.
A Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer has been convicted of misconduct in a public office.
PC James Formby, 31, pleaded guilty to the charges at Southwark Crown Court yesterday, January 26.
An investigation conducted by the Independent Police Complaints Commission revealed that on September 19, 2009, PC Formby and another police officer responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a house in Bromley. A man was arrested and taken to Bromley Police Station, but PC Formby stayed at the house to take a victim statement. While at the house PC Formby engaged in sexual activity with the woman, who had been drinking.
IPCC Commissioner Rachel Cerfontyne said: “Victims of crime must be able to call the police and rely on being dealt with professionally and properly at all times. Police officers hold a unique position of trust in the eyes of the public and it is disgraceful that PC Formby abused that trust in this case. He should have been supporting a woman who was vulnerable and scared but instead he exploited the situation and his behaviour was completely inappropriate.”
PC Formby is due to be sentenced on March 1, 2010.