Detective guilty of sexualised behaviour

The detective constable would have been sacked if he had not already resigned

A former detective constable would have been sacked if he had not already resigned after he subjected female colleagues to inappropriate sexualised behaviour.

Tony Arthur, formerly of Essex Police, made inappropriate sexualised comments to five female colleagues on several different occasions throughout 2024.

Further details of the allegations have not yet been published on the force's website.

Chief officer Robin Punt, who chaired the misconduct hearing on Monday and Tuesday, said: "There is simply no place in policing for people who think, wrongly, that they can get away with sexual misconduct."

Mr Arthur was initially suspended after colleagues started raising concerns about his behaviour, and an investigation was launched.

He resigned from his position effective October 2025, before the misconduct hearing took place.

The misconduct hearing panel found the former officer's actions amounted to gross misconduct.

The panel also ordered that his name be placed on the College of Policing Barred List, which means he will never be able to join any UK police force in the future.

Mr Punt added: "We won't allow any individual to undermine all the hard work that goes on day and night to catch criminals, keep people safe and win the trust of communities across the county.

"To the witnesses in this case and to the detectives who led this professional standards investigation, you saw something that was wrong and then you did the right thing. I want to praise your courage in speaking up.

"To anyone speaking up, you will be listened to. That's what this case proves.

"To anyone who tries to get away with misconduct of this kind, you're on borrowed time; the truth will come out just as it has today."