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In January, Caerphilly Observer reported on the resignation of a former Gwent Police officer after allegations, including of “predatory” behaviour, were made against him.

The former officer, who has not been named by Gwent Police, faced three separate allegations at a public hearing on January 5.

Caerphilly Observer then submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to better understand the timeline of events.

Now, we can reveal that the former officer remained a suspended, paid member of the force for more than two years after the first allegations became known to the ‘appropriate authority’ – i.e. those who dealt with the complaint.

We can also reveal that the officer resigned on January 4, 2024 – just one day before his public hearing.

The allegations against the man, known only as former Police Officer A, were as follows:

• Sending “inappropriate messages” to a colleague and communicating in a sexually inappropriate manner;
• Sending “inappropriate messages” to a second colleague which were of a “sexualised, flirtatious and suggestive manner”;
• Sending messages to a domestic abuse victim who was involved in a police investigation and then telling her to delete “anything from her phone that she didn’t want police to see” – thereby seeking to interfere with the investigation.

Timeline of events

The first allegations against former Police Officer A came to light on October 11, 2021.

After this, the officer was suspended from ‘all duties’.

However, he remained a paid member of staff for another two years, two months and three weeks.

During his suspension, two further allegations emerged – on January 19, 2022 and September 16, 2022.

There was then a gap of one year, three months and six days until the former officer provided a ‘formal regulation 54 response’ to the first and second allegations.

This response meant the former officer effectively accepted his behaviour concerning the first and second allegations amounted to gross misconduct.

The former officer was set to face allegations at a public hearing on January 5, 2024. He resigned the day before – on January 4.

In the public hearing on January 5, 2024, the officer’s conduct was found to amount to gross misconduct in each case and collectively.

What did Gwent Police say?

A spokesperson from Gwent Police told Caerphilly Observer that the officer was suspended from “all duties” from the first allegation.

He was paid throughout his suspension, which lasted more than two years.

The spokesperson told us the former officer was still paid as he was ‘still under contract’.

They added that it was important for the force to abide by employment rules and undertake a full and robust investigation into matters. 

The spokesperson also told us that the hearing – which occurred more than three years after the first allegation came to light – took place at the “earliest opportunity”.

They said the force wanted to ensure there were no scheduling issues and that all the relevant people, such as legal representatives, were present.

“A position of trust and responsibility”

Gwent Police declined former Police Officer A’s request to hold the hearing in private. 

In the written report that details the decision of the January 5 hearing, CC Kelly wrote that the officer abused a “position of trust and responsibility” and that his “rank and level of responsibility adds to the seriousness as there is an imbalance of power and authority”.

She added that the officer had engaged in “predatory behaviour motivated by a desire to establish a sexual or improper emotional relationship” concerning the first and second allegations.

In the officer’s conduct with the vulnerable domestic abuse victim, CC Kelly wrote that former Police Officer A’s actions “brought discredit on the police service and are capable of undermining public confidence”.

While the officer had resigned before the public hearing in Cwmbran, the chief said that he would have “been immediately dismissed had the former officer not resigned”.

“Totally unacceptable“

The behaviour was also a breach of Gwent Police’s Standards of Professional Behaviour on four counts; honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, and discreditable conduct.

Gwent Police chief constable Pam Kelly, who chaired the panel on January 5, said: “The behaviour of this former officer is totally unacceptable.

“The communities of Gwent and the officers’ colleagues deserve to be treated with professionalism and respect.”

She added: “I am grateful to the victims who came forward, and their bravery is the standard I expect and very much appreciate. By coming forward they have allowed us to take action and remove this individual.

“We will continue to send a clear message to colleagues and the public that this behaviour has no place in our service, and we will pursue and remove those who damage confidence in our police service.”

The officer will be placed on the College of Policing’s barred list in due course.