Police officer investigated over sex abuse claims

Two women accuse a Cleveland Police officer of having sexual activity with them in a hotel when they were children

A police officer has faced a gross misconduct hearing over allegations of sexual activity with children more than two decades ago.

In 2020, two women reported that, when they were children, an off-duty officer had taken them to a hotel where a sexual activity took place.

The officer denied the allegations and a panel determined police could not prove sexual activity had taken place.

The force said the officer's "vetting" has been suspended pending a full review of the case.

"This is in line with national process and is a legal requirement following a misconduct case," it said.

The panel placed a legal restriction on the identity of the accused, which remains.

Insufficient evidence

In July 2020, two women made a report to Cleveland Police that an officer from the force had abused his position for a sexual purpose about 20 years earlier.

Both women were children at the time.

They stated an off-duty officer picked them up in his car and took them to a hotel where sexual activity took place.

A current serving officer, named only as PC X, was identified as the suspect after an investigation.

PC X was suspended from duty and became the subject of a criminal and gross misconduct investigation.

During an interview, the officer accepted knowing the children from previous on-duty interactions.

He said he had picked them up in his car while he was off duty and listened to music with them.

But PC X denied they attended a hotel or that any sexual activity had taken place.

The officer faced a gross misconduct hearing after the Counter Corruption Unit was not able to pursue criminal charges due to insufficient evidence.

Cleveland Police said: "Following the hearing on 5 July, the panel determined that Cleveland Police could not prove the sexual activity took place whilst PC X was a serving police officer and found no case to answer in respect of all the allegations."