Officer sacked over discriminatory lesbian remarks

PC Tom Hamer asked inappropriate sexual questions to junior colleagues, the chief constable was told

A police officer has been sacked after he made comments on the sex lives of junior lesbian colleagues.

PC Tom Hamer asked questions that were deemed to be "inappropriate, unacceptable and discriminatory" by Andy Prophet, the chief constable at Hertfordshire Police.

A misconduct hearing was told PC Hamer, who was 24 at the time of the incidents, made the comments despite being told several times prior "to desist".

The hearing on Wednesday concluded that PC Hamer's words on four separate occasions, between December 2023 and February 2024, amounted to gross misconduct and he was dismissed without notice.

In 10 December, 2023, PC Hamer asked a younger and less experienced officer "is the child feeling better now he has eaten".

Later that month, PC Hamer told a gay female member of staff who was less experienced that she was a "manwoman".

On 2 February 2024 he asked a gay female colleague a sexually explicit question.

And on a second occasion that month, the chief constable was told PC Hamer asked more questions about a gay female colleague's sex life.

PC Hamer admitted making all the comments, although he disputed that the first allegation breached equality and diversity standards and discreditable conduct. He also disputed that the second allegation breached equality and diversity standards.

'Entirely unacceptable'

The chief constable found the term "manwoman" was "inherently discriminatory [and] highly inappropriate" and would not have been used against Hamer's colleague "had she not been a gay woman".

"It is, in my view, entirely unacceptable for police officers to behave in a discriminatory manner and use language that makes others feel uncomfortable," said Mr Prophet.

He found that Hamer had breached standards of professional behaviour relating to respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, and discreditable conduct.