A former police constable has been found guilty of gross misconduct and if he hadn’t resigned from Guernsey Police before the hearing could take place then he would have been sacked.
The island’s new Chief Officer, Damian Kitchen chaired the misconduct hearing panel last week.
It was convened to hear nine allegations against the former PC, with the panel subsequently deciding eight of them were proven and constituted gross misconduct.
The eight counts of gross misconduct involved inappropriate sexual behaviour towards colleagues, inappropriate sexual comments being made towards colleagues, and a calculated pattern of inappropriately starting conversations about sexual matters.
Chief Officer Kitchen said that had the man – who Guernsey Police have not named in their statement to the media – not already resigned then he would have been dismissed without notice.
Chief Officer Kitchen also said that he was determined to hold the misconduct hearing despite the former officer’s resignation.
“Guernsey Police quite rightly expects the highest standards of professional behaviour from its officers and staff, as do the communities we serve and protect. The force cannot and will not tolerate behaviour of this kind. We will always take action to protect our officers, staff, and without question, the public,” said Chief Officer Kitchen.
Referring to the man’s proven behaviour, including inappropriate sexual behaviour and comments in the workplace, Chief Officer Kitchen said “this behaviour has no place in society, but especially not in the police service”.
“It is offensive to all, but in these cases was particularly disgusting towards my female colleagues in Guernsey police,” he said. “People such as this former constable have no place in our force, and I am now encouraging anyone who is aware of or experiences behaviour like this to take confidence from the commitment demonstrated in dealing with matters such as this , and to come forwards.”
The former PC was invited to attend the hearing last Wednesday but did not appear.
Chief Officer Kitchen said that, and his decision to resign from being a Police Constable, did not deter the panel in coming to their conclusion that he was guilty of gross misconduct.
The decision to find him guilty even though he has resigned means he won’t be able to work for law enforcement again.
“I am entirely certain that had this officer still been serving he would have been dismissed without notice,” said Chief Officer Kitchen. “We are also now taking steps to ensure he is included on the United Kingdom Police ‘Barred Officers’ list which protects police officers and staff in that he can never work in policing in any capacity again. It is vital that we maintain public confidence in the force, and public confidence cannot be upheld by allowing individuals who behave in such a way to work in policing.
“I would also like to highlight that I was determined that resignation from the force would not stop us hearing this case, notwithstanding the former officer’s absence, to ensure the behaviour went on record and we demonstrated to our staff and our communities across the Bailiwick our commitment to identifying and dealing with those who should not be in public service.
“Thankfully, behaviour like this is rare, and we have great people working hard in law enforcement to protect the public on the island.”
Mr Kitchen had previously said that he would “root people out that shouldn’t be in public service”.
He took up his dual role as head of Bailiwick Law Enforcement last Autumn.
Soon after arriving in the island, he told Express in an interview that “the public and the politicians in Guernsey have to put their trust in me, as the head of the force, and my values, and my leadership, to do the right thing”
He also promised that he would “go in hard and robust on anyone who should not be in the police service”.
