Gross misconduct proven against former police officer

A former police officer who resigned while under investigation for gross misconduct has today been informed, he would have been dismissed without notice if he was still a serving officer.

Chief Constable Nick Adderley chaired an accelerated gross misconduct disciplinary hearing this afternoon (February 8) where it was heard former PC Jamie Gibb breached the standards of professional behaviour when he made contact with two women he met while on duty and who he knew to be vulnerable.

On August 30, 2020, he was the officer in charge for an incident where Female A flagged down a police car and requested assistance following a verbal disagreement with her ex-partner which left her in a state of distress.

This information ought to have made it clear to him that Female A was a person who was vulnerable to an abuse of authority. He had a professional duty of care towards Female A.

Between the date of the incident and September 5, 2020, he sent messages relating to this incident Female A from his work mobile. He subsequently sent messages from his personal mobile telephone to Female A and telephoned her, inviting her to contact him via SnapChat. He did so without having any policing purpose.

The content of these messages included sexual comments, referenced to sexual activity with her, and requests for sexual images from her.

On and around September 21, 2020, he attended an incident following a report that Female B was harassing her estranged partner. After making enquiries he reported that Female B had been described as ‘distraught and inconsolable’ at the breakdown of her marriage.

This information ought to have made it clear to him that Female B was a person who was vulnerable to an abuse of authority. He had a professional duty of care towards Female B.

He sent messages to Female B and communicated with her via his personal mobile phone following the initial incident for which he had no policing purpose in doing so.

During those communications he disclosed personal information and communicated in a manner that was described as ‘flirty’. He requested that she download SnapChat for further communication.

His conduct with Female A and B were inappropriate as it represented:

• an abuse of authority for a sexual purpose
• conduct which was likely to undermine public confidence in the police

Steps taken to avoid detection of such via use of the Snapchat application represents a failure to act with integrity.

His conduct amounted to gross misconduct for the following reasons:

• the conduct was seriously inappropriate
• the conduct sought to exploit professional dealings with vulnerable females for sexual gain
• the conduct involved an attempt to carry out the conduct covertly to avoid detection

Chief Constable Adderley found the conduct proved with the Former Officer breaching the following Standards of Professional Behaviour:

• Authority, Respect and Courtesy
• Discreditable Conduct
• Honesty and Integrity

In his determination Chief Constable Adderley said: “I would describe the actions of former PC Gibb as calculated, manipulative and cruel. He set a course of action to exploit two vulnerable females who he knew, not ought to have known, but knew to be vulnerable.

“He used his privileged position, as a police officer, to obtain evidence and information, including intimate information, about Miss A and Miss B, then used that evidence to satisfy his own, either sexual gratification, or perverse desires, making both Miss A and B, further victims.

“At the very time that Miss A was seeking safety and assurances, having had the courage to report matters to the police, former officer Gibb took the opportunity to exploit her vulnerability. With regards to Miss B, again he used his position as a police officer, creating and falsehood and façade to entice an engagement with her for his own perverted ends.

“I find it incomprehensible that a police officer, a guardian of the peace and a protector of people, would conduct themselves in this way, hugely eroding public trust and confidence and potentially ruining the lives of two females.

“Statements provided by Miss A and Miss B show the damage he has caused to them both and to the reputation of the police service.

“I am appalled by his devious, manipulative and coercive attempts to entice two vulnerable females into any form of a relationship for his own gratification. Moreover, I am ashamed that the former officer once wore the same uniform as I do, but whose intent and values, on these occasions, were not to serve the public but to exploit them for his own ends.

“Northamptonshire Police adopts a zero tolerance to any such cases, where the facts are proved. I am satisfied that the facts are proved in this case, and I have no hesitation in determining that: If former officer Gibb was still serving, he would have been dismissed without notice. I also determine that he be placed of the College of Policing barred list, preventing him from ever working in policing again.

“The shame he has brought on the police service and that of his family, has no bounds.”

The former officer had resigned from Northamptonshire Police prior to the hearing being held and did not attend the hearing. 

You can read more from the Independent Office for Police Conduct, here.