Former DC who sold sexual services guilty of gross misconduct
A former detective with West Midlands Police who sold sexual services from his home has been found guilty of gross misconduct after a disciplinary panel said his actions were “akin to a criminal offence”.
Former Det Con Nicholas Taylor, who was based with CID at Bloxwich, advertised the services on the internet – off duty conduct that brought discredit on the police service.
When a national newspaper contacted the force in November 2020 with allegations about the officer’s activities, and investigation was launched by the Professional Standards Department and the officer was removed from public-facing duties.
At a hearing today (May 25) in front of an independent chair, the former detective constable was found to have breached professional standards relating to his duties and responsibilities, and instructions, as well as conducting himself in a discreditable way.
The officer had already resigned, but the misconduct process continued. The independent chair found the officer’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, and that he would have been dismissed had he not resigned.
He will now be placed on the barred list, preventing him from working in policing.
Det Chief Supt Sam Ridding, head of the West Midlands Police Professional Standards Department, said: “We expect the highest standards of behaviour from our officers, both on and off duty. Like all officers, DC Taylor should not have engaged in activity that was likely to bring discredit on the police service and any business interests should have been declared to be assessed for any potential conflicts of interest with his role within the police. He failed to do that, and his off duty actions brought discredit upon West Midlands Police.”
