Officer who stole underwear barred from policing

A police officer who stole underwear from a home he was searching while on duty has been put on the profession's barred list for life.

Following a misconduct panel, Hertfordshire Police said Marcin Zielinski, 47, would have been dismissed if he had not already resigned over the case.

Zielinski, from St Albans, was carrying out a search in September 2024 when he took a woman's underwear.

He was jailed for four months in August, after admitting to one charge of theft and a charge of corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and privileges.

Zielinski resigned from the force while under investigation in November 2024.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Mariner said: "There is no place for people like Zielenski within Hertfordshire Constabulary.

"He has fallen well short of the high standards that we have set.

"His behaviour damages the hard-earned trust that the public puts in us to catch criminals and keep them safe."