Wiltshire PoliceA police officer found guilty of stalking would have been fired had he not already resigned, a misconduct hearing has found.
Andrew Edwards, 31, from Chippenham, admitted looking up his ex-partner, her male friends and her boyfriend on police systems while working as a police constable at Wiltshire Police. He also went to her home 31 times.
He was handed a 20-month suspended prison term in September and has now been barred from policing after a misconduct hearing found he breached professional standards.
Iain Gibson, the chair and director of people at the force, said he hoped the decision showed the public the police take stalking seriously.
Edwards was suspended when his offences came to light and resigned during the criminal investigation.
The misconduct hearing at Bulford Military Court Centre heard that he would have been dismissed without notice if he had not already quit.
Mr Gibson said: “Andrew Edwards repeatedly abused his power as a police officer by using confidential systems to look up his ex-partner and her associates.
“Not only that but he visited her home on more than 30 occasions, both while on duty and off duty, and continued to do so even after being arrested.
“There can be absolutely no justification for this. It is a complete breach of the trust and confidence placed in us by the public, and his behaviour falls far below the high standards we demand from our officers and staff.
“Stalking is a very serious offence with a potentially lasting impact on the victim’s physical and mental health.”
