A police sergeant has been discharged for making sexual comments to a vulnerable lady taken into custody before initiating a romantic relationship with her.
When he first met the woman, Karl Longhurst, 44, was working as a sergeant in a Welsh seaside town.
A misconduct hearing was informed that, after her imprisonment, Mr. Longhurst made “inappropriate sexual comments to her.”
Despite her vulnerabilities, he established a sexual relationship with her and failed to inform top officials.
Additionally, he accessed her confidential police records via the force’s computers at Dyfed-Powys Police.
Karl Longhurst, 44, a former member of Dyfed-Powys Police, has been disqualified from the force for having sexual contact with a lady in detention who was vulnerable.
In his position in Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Mr. Longhurst was responsible for supervising and managing operational police resources.
He confessed participating in sexual activity with the woman, but attempted to argue that it did not constitute gross misconduct but only misconduct.
When his acts were discovered, a reference to the Independent Office for Police Conduct was made.
His conduct violated the Standards of Professional Behaviour pertaining to honesty and integrity, as well as discreditable conduct and confidentially, according to a misconduct hearing panel.
Now that he has been fired from his position, he has been added to the College of Policing’s Barred List to prevent him from ever rejoining the police force.
Claire Parmenter, Deputy Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police, stated, “This result demonstrates that Dyfed Powys Police will not tolerate inappropriate behavior.”
“Dyfed-Powys Police demands the greatest standards from all of its officers and employees, and will guarantee that the public has full faith and confidence in the force and its officers.”
The public may be certain that positive action will always be taken by the force whenever the conduct of officers and personnel falls below the high standards expected.