Gwent Police has been criticised by watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission over the way it handled a complaint concerning a Caerphilly firearms officer who had sex on duty.
On 10 April 2010, PC Shaun Jenkins was on armed patrol duties in Caerphilly with a colleague when they stopped for a woman PC Jenkins knew. They gave her a lift in the armed response vehicle to a house the officer owned in that area.
PC Jenkins and the woman then had consensual sex at the property, while the other officer waited in the car.
PC Jenkins was eventually dismissed from the force but re-instated after he appealed to the Police Appeals Panel.
The force’s head of professional standards was also disciplined and removed from his role for the way the case was dealt with.
IPCC Commissioner for Wales Tom Davies said: “Any officer having sex on duty is unacceptable behaviour that falls well below what is expected of all police officers. Those who carry firearms are rightly subject to the highest standards of training, procedures and discipline.
“The manner in which this complaint was originally handled by Gwent Police is unacceptable and their attempts to ‘fast-track’ the complaint and deal with it outside the formal regulations are not good enough.”
The matter came to the attention of Gwent Police after the woman’s husband made a complaint about PC Jenkins’ conduct while he was on duty.
The force initially decided this was not a sackable offence. A report was then sent to both the complainant and the IPCC. The report did not mention that these were on-duty firearms officers.
The force went on to breach the complainant’s rights by finalising the disciplinary process before he could exercise his right of appeal to the IPCC and gave PC Jenkins a final written warning. The firearms officer who had waited in the police vehicle for about 40 minutes was also disciplined by the force.
However in January 2011, the complainant appealed to the IPCC who upheld the appeal and decided that the seriousness of PC Jenkins’ actions meant it should have been regarded as gross misconduct. The IPCC directed Gwent Police to hold a misconduct hearing. PC Jenkins was then dismissed.
In October 2011, PC Jenkins appealed against his dismissal and a Police Appeal Panel reinstated him on April 23 last year. The panel was critical of the way the disciplinary process had been applied to PC Jenkins.
IPCC Commissioner Mr Davies added: “I note and accept the reinstatement of this on-duty firearms officer on the basis stated by the Police Appeals Panel. The Panel also found two errors in the disciplinary process and, with Gwent Police, have ensured that no such procedural error will be repeated. Further I have been reassured by Gwent Police that, after a careful audit, no similar errors were made in other cases to prevent full disciplinary processes being followed.
“The finding of the Police Appeals Panel that the gun was never out of PC Jenkins’ direct and immediate control because it was in a holster, attached to his trousers, which were attached to him, albeit around his ankles, is surprising.
“I am also bemused by the panel’s conclusion that his conduct did not significantly downgrade the protection to the public because there was nothing to suggest he could not have been back in the police vehicle within a minute or two.
“These findings can only undermine public confidence in the credibility of the police discipline system.”
A Gwent Police spokesperson said: “Gwent Police notes and fully accepts the findings of the IPCC report which was critical of the Force’s handling of a complaint against a serving officer.
“Our complaints handling processes have been reviewed and improved as part of our on-going efforts to ensure we provide the best possible service to the public.”
It is absolutely disgusting that this officer has bee reinstated. His conduct was terrible and yes the public will have less confidence in the police when they read this.
I suspect NoMoralityAnyMore is scared to use his own name because he has no backbone for fear of retribution – he clearly prefers to follow a secret life.
He should have no such fear because most policemen will agree with his setiments
See all police officers are not faithfully …
See all police officers are not faith
Full …..
I notice a regular contributor, DEAN, to these articles makes NO COMMENT about this story, I wonder WHY.
He broke the trust the public place in the police force and deserved to be disciplined. As far as the process goes, I do not blame the force in the way they handled the matter as current procedures are time consuming and inefficient. They are almost as inefficient as the council. I do not to understand why the report failed to mention that the officer was on duty at the time and why the fellow officer waiting in the patrol car did not radio through to see what was taking so long or go in to investigate. The officer might have been in danger. After all, there was "nothing to suggest he could not have been back in the police vehicle within a minute or two."
Should he have been reinstated? I think so. Having sex whilst on duty in my opinion is punishable but not enough to expel an officer. Expelling should come from tampering with evidence, lying about duty shifts or breaking the law.
This is the same police officer who won a bravery award. His service record speak for him. One mistake on this level should not lead to complete dismissal.
Loaded gun in his Holster, on his belt, around his ankles, whilst he ` did the business`, whilst on duty of course, ie. whilst we, the public were paying him to protect us and our property from harm, leaving his police companion sitting in the Police Car waiting for him to do the deed.
Dean says…"His service record speak for him. One mistake on this level should not lead to complete dismissal". Of Course not, Dean otherwise we may be interfering with his civil Liberties?, and whats wrong with policemen taking time out, whilst on duty, to engage in carnel knowledge???? riding the big dipper in Barry Island having raced there from Blackwood, or slapping a youngster about now and again for not doing what he is told, Policemen all over Gwent are horrified and distance themselves from this sort of activity and get on with `the job` in a decent and professional way, and good on them for doing that.
Yes, good on them for doing that!
He broke trust, service regulations and neglected his job. If this was the first time doing such a thing then I agree with the reinstatement. If this is not the first time, fire him.
I'm not to sure what you want me to say? Come out and defend the inefficient, money wasting police force?
Dean… Neglecting his job should be sufficient reason to dispense with his services, breaking of trust should be enough to fire a police officer, serious breaches of Service Regulations is also sufficient reason to fire a serving police officer, ask Ian Johnston or Carmel Napier,so, your distorted view on such `deviant policeman rule breakers is, just that, distorted. Only you know why.
I view situations on a different severity level. Fornicating on duty, in my opinion, is not worth it. It's like a teacher hitting a naughty pupil. Is it against regulations, yes. Do I think the teacher should be fired, no!
Let's not get bogged down in that police commissioner stuff. I predicted the moment the idea came about that it would lead to trouble. It's the worst thing (apart form denying a referendum on the EU, cutting defence spending and increasing foreign aid) that this current coalition has done.
WELL SAID JEFF YOU GOT IT IN ONE NOT ALL OFFICERS ARE GENUINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thay should sack him
i have no confidents in the police,i have a drug dealer two doors from me,in the past he has robbed me,police not interested, they had a statement and that was it.now he is selling a drug called meow.his mother has reported him as she found loads of drugs in the house but yet again police not interested,what are we supposed to do when you get no support ?