Former PC would have been dismissed for ‘inappropriate sexual relationship
A former police constable who had an “inappropriate sexual relationship” with a vulnerable woman he met while on duty would have been dismissed had he not already resigned, a misconduct panel has ruled.
West Mercia Police officer Mark Hidden, who was based in Shropshire, had also accessed police systems to view information about the woman without a legitimate policing purpose.
The force said PC Hidden had “let the victim and the public down”.
The misconduct hearing followed an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
It said PC Hidden, 42, visited the woman’s home in December 2019 after she had reported a domestic incident. He was alleged to have entered into a consensual, but inappropriate, sexual relationship with the woman shortly after, the IOPC said.
It added that evidence indicates the officer had consensual sex with the woman on several occasions, including while on duty, up until April 2020.
The investigation found that between December 2019 and May 2020 there were more than 5,500 WhatsApp messages exchanged between the officer and the woman, with only a small proportion for a policing matter.
Some of the messages sent by the officer were of a sexual nature and while he was on duty. Investigators uncovered “a number of sexually graphic images” on PC Hidden’s work issue mobile phone that had been shared between the officer and the woman.
The IOPC investigation began in May 2020 following a referral regarding the officer’s conduct from West Mercia Police.
The IOPC said investigators interviewed the officer under caution, examined his mobile phone and obtained statements from several witnesses, including the woman victim. At the end of the investigation in May 2021 it submitted its report to the force with the view that PC Hidden had a case to answer for gross misconduct. PC Hidden resigned from the force last year.
A police disciplinary panel, led by a legally qualified, independent chair, also heard evidence that PC Hidden had accessed police systems to view information about the woman without a legitimate policing purpose.
The gross misconduct hearing on Tuesday (May 9) determined that the former officer had breached the standards of professional behaviour in a number of areas, including authority, respect and courtesy, confidentiality and discreditable conduct. It was decided he would have been dismissed had he still been serving.
IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said: “Cases such as these have the real potential to impact on public confidence in policing. At the outset of their service, it is made clear to officers that it is unacceptable to have, or seek, inappropriate and unprofessional contact with members of the public who they deal with through their professional duties.
“Ex-PC Hidden continued a sexual relationship with a vulnerable woman, who was a victim of crime, over a number of months despite knowing his conduct was wrong. Following a gross misconduct hearing, it has been determined that he would have been dismissed had he still been a serving police officer. This sends a clear message that behaviour of this kind will be thoroughly investigated, has no part in policing and will not be tolerated.”
West Mercia Police said an investigation was “immediately launched” when the matter came to light in May 2020. PC Hidden was subsequently suspended and in 2022 he resigned from the force.
Deputy Chief Constable Alex Murray said: “This officer let the victim and the public down. It is simply not acceptable in any way. Further it has seriously undermined the hard work most officers and staff carry out daily to protect people from harm. We make no apology that we have pursued gross misconduct procedures despite him previously resigning from the force. It is only right the public see the actions we will take against those who have no place in policing.
“Building trust and confidence in the police service is as important now as it has ever been; the public must have confidence police officers will not abuse their position for any purpose including forming inappropriate relationships with people when they are at their most vulnerable. This action demonstrates we are committed to improving the professionalism of West Mercia Police. That commitment will continue and is driven by our Chief Constable Pippa Mills.”
Mark Hidden will now be added to the College of Policing’s barred list.