Neil Wilby Media

West Yorkshire Police has given notice that, between 10th and 12th June, 2024 commencing at at 10h00 on the first day, a misconduct hearing under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 will take place in relation to ‘Officer X’.

The hearing will be hosted at Force Headquarters, Laburnum Road, Wakefield and the closing date for applications to attend is 4pm on 6th June 2024 (form can be downloaded here).

It is alleged that: –

1. On a date in June 2021, whilst off duty, Officer X engaged in sexual activity with a 16-year-old vulnerable female (“Miss A”). In behaving in such a way, he acted in breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to: Authority, Respect and Courtesy and Discreditable Conduct 

2. On 27th April 2022 Officer X exchanged a series of messages with a number attributed to Miss B, a vulnerable female and known sex worker. Within the message exchange Officer X arranged to pay for sexual services and subsequently confirmed his attendance at her premises. In behaving in such a way, he acted in breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to: Honesty and Integrity and Discreditable Conduct

These matters are individually, and collectively, alleged to amount to gross misconduct, namely a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour that, if proved, is so serious as to justify dismissal.

The hearing will be in public but attendance at the hearing is subject to the following conditions and reporting restrictions set out in a separate Order made by the Legally Qualified Chair (LQC), Mrs Wendy Evans. 

(i) The LQC has granted anonymity to Officer X, to be reconsidered at the conclusion of the hearing.

(ii) The involved persons, Miss A and Miss B have also been afforded anonymity.

(iii) There is an associated reporting restriction prohibiting the publication of any matter that could lead to the identification of either Officer X, Miss A or Miss B. 

WYP say that any representations, including by any news or media organisation, regarding the imposition of conditions and reporting restrictions should be made in writing to the Legally Qualified Chair c/o Helen Hepton, psd.genenq@westyorkshire.police.uk

The force was asked to confirm whether Officer X has (a) been subject to any criminal investigation (b) his present duty status (c) the unit or district in which he was deployed.

On behalf of the Legally Qualified Chair, WYP PSD said that “whilst a criminal investigation took place it must be emphasised a decision was made to take no further action following the conclusion reached that there was no evidence of any criminal offences having been committed.”

The argument was also also advanced by PSD, on behalf of the LQC, that revealing Officer X’s duty status and/or the location/nature of his deployment within the force “could lead to the identification of the officer and, therefore, should not be disclosed at this stage”.

The other Panel members are now known to be ACC Carl Galvin and Amanda Harvey.

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Page last updated: Thursday 6th June, 2024 at 1105 hours

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