Sergeant demoted for unfastening officer's bra

Warwickshire Police said the officer had lost the trust of his colleagues

A police sergeant who unfastened a colleague's bra during a team night out has been demoted.

Jacob Tyler, from Warwickshire Police, was reduced in rank to constable over his behaviour while walking to New Street station in Birmingham on 12 August 2022.

A hearing found the officer, who admitted gross misconduct, breached standards of professional behaviour, the force said.

It stated he had made an "appropriate apology" and took "full responsibility for his actions".

An accelerated misconduct hearing report said "the AA [appropriate authority] and the victim do not say the conduct was sexual" and it was found his "conduct was misjudged 'tomfoolery'."

The report said intoxication by alcohol was "no mitigation" for the incident involving a junior female officer.

As a leader, "he should have and will have been conscious of the need to maintain appropriate boundaries," it said.

Det Supt Paul Thompson, head of the force professional standards department, said the officer had lost the trust of his colleagues and his actions "negatively impact public confidence".

He also said it was made clear during the hearing that the officer had been regarded highly in the past and that Chief Constable Debbie Tedds felt he "deserved the opportunity to earn back the trust of his colleagues".

The report said it was noted the officer had "over many years demonstrated a commitment to public service, and high standards".

The outcome is subject to an appeals process.