Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC - formerly IPCC)
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Former Essex Police officer sent inappropriate messages to two women

A former Essex Police officer would have been dismissed for gross misconduct after an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct identified he sent inappropriate messages to two women.

PC Matthew Langford, based at Clacton Police Station, accessed police records in order to send personal and inappropriate messages to a vulnerable victim of crime in 2017. He had previously sent inappropriate and uninvited messages to a young woman who was thinking of joining Essex Police in 2014 and 2015.

In September 2018 we concluded our investigation and shared our report and findings with Essex Police who agreed that PC Langford had a case to answer for gross misconduct.

On Friday, 28 June, the case against PC Langford was proven and the panel found he would have been dismissed had he not already resigned. The panel found that PC Langford had breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to Orders and Instructions; Confidentiality; Discreditable Conduct; and Authority, Respect and Courtesy. Although he has now left Essex Police he will go on the College of Policing Barred List.

IOPC Regional Director, Sarah Green yesterday said:

“Matthew Langford’s behaviour, in attempting to abuse his position for sexual gain, was inexcusable and the fact he would have been dismissed if still a serving officer shows the seriousness with which this type of behaviour is treated. His conduct undermined the public’s confidence in policing so it is wholly appropriate that he will now be barred from the police service.

“We are aware that this type of behaviour is one of the top areas of police conduct that concerns the general public.

“We are working hard to ensure police forces refer all allegations of abuse of position for sexual purpose to us, and we will continue to provide guidance and knowledge to help identify this abuse of trust as early as possible.”

 

Channel website: https://policeconduct.gov.uk/

Original article link: https://policeconduct.gov.uk/news/former-essex-police-officer-sent-inappropriate-messages-two-women

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