Norfolk Chief Constable Paul Sanford condemns former officers after gross misconduct hearings
Norfolk’s Chief Constable has described the behaviour of three former police officers who sexually abused colleagues on nights out as “horrific”.
In two separate cases, the three former Norfolk Police officers would have been sacked had they not already resigned.
The officers were found to have breached standards of behaviour and will be added to the College of Policing’s barred list.
It follows two recent gross misconducts hearings – in the first hearing held in November, former officers referred to as Y and Z, were accused of sexual touching and being sexually inappropriate with a colleague on a night out in June 2021. Following legal representations, the officers were granted anonymity by the panel’s independent chair.
In the second gross misconduct hearing held earlier this month, the panel found former Sgt Marley Symonds engaged in unwanted sexual behaviour and touching against a colleague on a night out in April 2023.
Chief Constable Paul Sanford said: “The conduct of these former officers was appalling; they have sexually abused colleagues on a night out. Such behaviour has no place in society or policing.
“We know the behaviour of those who work in policing is under constant scrutiny, both in our organisation as well as the wider community, and rightly so. I welcome this scrutiny and our pro-active action to dismiss those officers who have no right to wear the uniform will continue. This action is necessary to ensure we maintain the standards that the public and I expect from police officers.
“The horrific behaviour of these officers comes at a cost to the majority who work in our county every day, targeting criminals, taking dangerous people off our streets and protecting the public.”
Criminal investigations were carried out in both cases, with all officers interviewed under caution. Following enquiries, and the assessment of all available evidence, no criminal charges were brought against the officers.