Police officer quits after contact with sex worker – while both on and off-duty

Dyfed Powys Police say that an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing was held at its Headquarters in Carmarthen on 11 March in respect of the former officer.

Dyfed Powys Police declined to name the former officer “in the interest of promoting the welfare of third parties”.

The officer resigned from the force on 28 February 28 while under investigation. He fully admitted the offences put to him.

This included that on 8 May 2024 he had contact with a known sex worker, which continued up to and including contact on 4 June 2024, whereby the former officer exchanged messages with the sex worker – while both on and off-duty.

The intent of this contact was to secure or attempt to secure the individual’s sexual services.

On 4 June 2024, while off duty, the former officer meet with the same sex worker, collecting her from her home and taking her to a location in the Morriston area, where she was led to believe she was to be paid for her sexual services. The former officer then abandoned the woman in the area before making off.

Dyfed Powys Police say that had the former officer still been serving, then the conduct in question would have warranted his dismissal from the force and his addition to the College of Policing Barred List, which would prevent him re-entering the police service or specified law enforcement.

Chief Officer Mr Ian Arundale, the Force’s newly appointed Misconduct Panel Chair, chaired the accelerated hearing and determined that the former officer’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct, breaching the standard of professional behaviour relating to Discreditable Conduct, and that had he still been serving he would have been dismissed from the force, and that he should now be added to the College of Policing Barred List.

Deputy Chief Constable Ifan Charles, the Appropriate Authority for complaints and misconduct in Dyfed-Powys Police, said: “Dyfed-Powys Police expects the highest standards of professional behaviour from its officers and staff, both on and off duty. The behaviour of Former Officer A was totally unacceptable, and the force will continue to relentlessly pursue any allegations of a sexual nature from both a criminal and misconduct perspective.

“I acknowledge this is the second accelerated hearing relating to misconduct by a Dyfed-Powys Police officer in just two days, and that this may cause concern. I want to provide assurance that it is simply the outcome of a zero-tolerance approach to behaviour that falls below our high standards.

“I welcome the use of an accelerated misconduct hearing in this case, as it demonstrates we will use all tools available to us to ensure the efficient and swift manner of dismissing officers who should no longer hold the office of constable.

“The outcome of this process is reflective of this hardline approach, and I hope reassures the public that as a force, we will do all we can to maintain the high standards rightly expected of police officers and staff, whether on or off duty, and whether still serving or not.”