PC sacked over 'corrupt' drug dealer relationship

The officer's actions were described as "inexcusable"

A West Yorkshire police officer has been dismissed over a relationship she had with a drug dealer who was later jailed for eight years.

The officer, who cannot be named due to an anonymity order, "failed to properly investigate incidents involving him" and ignored instructions to cease contact with him, a disciplinary hearing found.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which led the investigation into the officer, described her actions as "corrupt and inexcusable".

She was found to have committed gross misconduct at the end of a five-day disciplinary hearing on Friday.

The officer failed to notify the force of her first contact with the man and then later formed an "inappropriate personal relationship with him", the IOPC said.

She then placed herself "in a compromising position by sharing intimate images with him", the watchdog added.

On one occasion in July 2022, she responded to reports of him dealing drugs but after the man left the scene, she claimed she could not find him.

'Let down colleagues'

The investigation found she failed to record the incident, conduct arrest inquiries, mark her body-worn video as evidential, submit an intelligence report or take any other action in relation to the incident.

IOPC director Emily Barry said: "The public expects police officers to catch criminals, not help them.

"Her actions let down her colleagues by prioritising her relationship with a drug dealer over them, and her duty to uphold the law.

Det Ch Supt Tanya Williams, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "We make it very clear to all police officers, staff and volunteers that they must declare any personal contact with notifiable associations, including criminals.

"This is crucial to prevent any conflict of interest and to maintain public confidence in the police."

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