Former Wiltshire Police officer dismissed for gross misconduct
It's after he exchanged more than 2,000 text messages with a vulnerable woman
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
A former Wiltshire Police officer, who exchanged more than 2,000 text messages with a vulnerable woman, has been dismissed for gross misconduct.
It follows a misconduct hearing which today concluded that if the former officer was still serving, he would have been dismissed after starting an inappropriate relationship with a vulnerable woman.
Former PC Christopher Grant started a sexual and improper emotional relationship with the woman which would be regarded as an abuse of position for a sexual purpose.
Contact between the two began when the woman reported her partner for a sexual assault and then serving PC Grant was appointed to conduct the investigation.
In the two months that followed, PC Grant sent more than 2,100 text messages to the victim.
He resigned from his role earlier this year.
The Force today said former PC Christopher Grant abused his position of power, to form an "inappropriate and unprofessional" relationship.
Chair of the accelerated gross misconduct panel, Chief Constable Catherine Roper, upheld the allegation and concluded that had PC Grant not resigned from the Force, he would have been dismissed without notice.
Chief Constable Roper said: “Firstly, I wanted to apologise, on behalf of the organisation, to the victim in this case. She came to us to report a serious offence and the officer entrusted to support her, abused his position for his own sexual gratification.
“I want to be clear – the actions of Christopher Grant go against everything we stand for as a police service. There is no room in Wiltshire Police for any officer, member of staff or volunteer who betray the trust our communities place in us at their time of need.
“I want to be unequivocal in my position on this as the new Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police – I will not tolerate any behaviour which falls below the standard I, and our communities, expect.
“Further, I would encourage any member of the community who may have concerns about the conduct or professionalism of any of my officers or staff to contact the Force Professional Standards Department, Crime Stoppers or the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”
He will now be entered onto the national barred list.
This means he's been prevented from working within any police force in England and Wales, therefore providing important protection to the public.
Wiltshire Police referred this investigation to the IOPC who investigated it independently from Wiltshire Police.