PCSO had 'improper relationship' with woman

The woman changed her will to leave her property to Narjit Thapa and his wife

A former police officer who had an inappropriate relationship with a vulnerable woman committed gross misconduct, a police panel has ruled.

Narjit Thapa will now be banned from working for the police or other law enforcement agencies after the panel concluded he would have been dismissed if he had not already resigned.

The former officer joined Avon and Somerset Police in 2015 as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) before becoming a student police constable.

It was during his time as PCSO he formed the relationship with the vulnerable Bristol woman, who was a repeat victim of crime.

The woman, who has since died, changed her will to leave her property to the officer and his wife.

This first came to light when she dialled 999 asking for the officer’s date of birth, stating it was for the will.

This was flagged with Mr Thapa's senior officers and then the Professional Standards Department (PSD).

In 2022, Mr Thapa contacted PSD to advise he’d been left the property following the woman’s death, later claiming he’d been in touch with the executor to decline it.

An investigation by PSD found he had given inaccurate information about how often he visited the woman’s home during work hours, downplayed her vulnerability, and despite claiming he’d declined the gift of the property, was unable to provide evidence of doing so.

He also told colleagues the woman only knew his wife through photographs, when in fact she had been one of her paid carers.

'Malign intent'

Supt Mark Edgington, Head of PSD, said: “PC Thapa used his policing position to form an inappropriate emotional relationship with a vulnerable member of the public and knew full well he was in line to significantly benefit financially from her will.

“His actions are concerning and show evidence of malign intent. His role was to protect and reassure a victim of crime, not take advantage of her vulnerabilities for his own gain.

“It’s right he can never serve in policing and law enforcement again and I want to reassure our communities we’ll continue to be robust in rooting out those who are not fit to serve them.”