Police officer sacked over sexual messages to student colleague

Two accusations of gross misconduct were proven against the officer

A police officer who sent sexual messages to a student officer has been sacked.

The Northumbria Police officer had asked about the woman's favourite sexual position and underwear, a misconduct panel was told.

Referred to as Officer A during the hearing at Houghton-le-Spring police station, he was also found to not have reported a disclosure of inappropriate sexual behaviour made by the woman relating to another officer.

He had told the investigation he had not been aware his messages were unwanted, but the panel ruled his actions amounted to gross misconduct.

The exchanges had started in 2021 after the pair met at a party, the panel heard.

Officer A had a supervisory role periodically of the student officer, known as Witness D, and was in a position of trust.

He sent several sexual messages which made her feel uncomfortable, the hearing was told.

'Power imbalance'

The woman said her replies had been "bland", but Officer A said at no point had she suggested his messages were unwelcome and that he did not consider her replies "bland".

The panel found the "power imbalance" between the two made it difficult for Witness D to challenge her more experienced colleague.

It also said it had been Officer A's responsibility to maintain professional boundaries.

The second allegation concerned him failing to act after the woman told him she had been subject to inappropriate sexual behaviour by another officer.

The panel found Officer A did not "take any action" following that disclosure.

On both allegations, the panel said such behaviour was precisely “what needs to be eradicated if women are going to consider a career in policing and feel comfortable once recruited”.

“This was not an isolated lapse of judgement,” it added in its report.

Office A was dismissed without notice and has been placed on the College of Policing Barred List.