Ex-West Midlands Police officer 'crossed the boundary' by messaging arrested woman

A West Midlands Police officer "crossed the boundary" by using his personal phone to send messages to an arrested woman. The Pc later left the force and now an investigation has concluded he would have been sacked if he was still an employee.

The officer, who was not named by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, commented about pictures she had posted on social media and on her appearance. She complained the remarks about her looks were inappropriate.

They were made at her home when she was arrested, and later via WhatsApp. A disciplinary panel concluded he would have been sacked had he still been serving after he was found to have breached police professional standards for honesty and integrity; authority, respect and courtesy; and conduct.

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The former constable cannot be named due to a ruling made by the panel beforehand.

IOPC regional director David Ford said: “Police policy and guidance makes it clear officers should not establish or pursue an improper sexual or emotional relationship with a person with whom they come into contact with during the course of their work, and who may be vulnerable to an abuse of trust or power.

“When we interviewed the officer, he agreed the messages he sent amounted to inappropriate contact, both in their content, and because the woman was under investigation at the time. He accepted he had ‘crossed the boundary’ and he has now rightly been held accountable for that.”