A police inspector who messaged a vulnerable junior colleague to tell her that he had imagined her wearing a bikini has been given a three-year final written warning.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary officer’s hearing was not held in public and he has not been named publicly over concerns for his mental health.
A panel heard the woman, a trainee police constable, was having marital difficulties and that the inspector had sought to help her professionally.
But it concluded his conduct, including telling her that he had a “very pleasant” dream about her, “went beyond acceptable professional boundaries” and was inappropriate.
The panel said a comment which the inspector made referring to a “fairly tight-fitting outfit” was sexist and fell short of professional standards.
The colleagues shared messages through multiple channels, including Facebook, WhatsApp and iMessage, but the woman felt the inspector had “picked up [her] vulnerability” and exploited it.
“While the panel accepts that [the inspector] did not set out to exploit [the junior officer] or pursue a romantic relationship, his conduct was misguided, unprofessional and fell below the standards expected of an inspector,” the panel concluded.
“His apologies and concessions show some remorse, but his lack of full insight into the power dynamics and safeguarding responsibilities diminishes the reliability of his assurances.”
