Serving officer dismissed for gross misconduct

The serving police officer also breached Covid-19 restrictions to meet a woman for a “sexual purpose” and retained “confidential police data” on his personal mobile.

The officer, who has not been named, admitted the allegations and the independent panel found they that he had breached the standards of professional behaviour and this cumulatively amounted to gross misconduct.

It was alleged that:

• In 2012 the officer exchanged inappropriate, homophobic texts with a now retired BTP officer on his personal phone, and then he failed to challenge or report the behaviour;
• He retained confidential police data on his personal mobile telephone, including a pocket notebook entry from 2017, an image of a suspect being interviewed in 2018 and two photographs of a serious head injury taken in 2019; and
• In November 2020 breached official Coronavirus legal restrictions by meeting a woman he did not live with for a sexual purpose.

Following representations made by the officer to the independent legally qualified chair, it was ruled his name should be anonymised, said the force.

Detective Superintendent Pete Fulton, head of Professional Standards at BTP, said: “We are absolutely committed to rooting out anyone who falls short of the high standards we expect at BTP – and we will always relentlessly investigate wrongdoing when it is reported to us, regardless of how many years ago it may have taken place.

“This officer engaged in a variety of unacceptable behaviour over the years which means he is simply not fit to hold a warrant card.

“I wholeheartedly support the decision of the independent panel to dismiss him with immediate effect.”