Herts police sergeant had secret relationship with vulnerable junior
The former officer, Paul Pickett, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had he not already resigned
A police sergeant who began a sexual relationship with a vulnerable junior colleague while acting as her welfare officer would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had he not already resigned.
The former officer, Paul Pickett, held the role of Police Federation representative and welfare officer to a junior police constable, known as PC X, during 2023. They were both part of the St Albans Safer Neighbourhoods team.
Pickett was assisting with an ongoing investigation linked to a complaint PC X had made about another officer. Despite his responsibility in the matter and knowing that PC X was vulnerable and had previously experienced unwanted attention, he entered into a sexual relationship with her.
A misconduct panel heard that Pickett did not inform senior officers about the relationship but instead asked junior colleagues to help conceal it from his long-term partner. In one incident, he asked a colleague how to change location settings on his devices. The colleague told the panel: “It was clear that he was using it to hide his location.”
The panel concluded that Pickett had “drawn someone else into his deception” and was not truthful during the process. When contacted about the misconduct proceedings, Pickett burned the official notice he had received and said: “I don’t know how clear I have to be; I’m not f***ing interested.”
He was found to have committed gross misconduct by breaching several standards of professional behaviour, including duties and responsibilities, honesty and integrity, and discreditable conduct.
The panel stated: “The former officer engaged in an emotional and sexual relationship with a junior member of staff, whom he knew to be vulnerable. He then failed to disclose this relationship and asked other junior members of his team to lie for him to cover up his relationship with PC X.”
They added: “The behaviour of the police, particularly inappropriate behaviour towards women, was a matter of national concern in relation to violence against women and girls. The panel took the view that as an experienced officer and role model for younger officers, former PS Pickett should have known better.”
Pickett admitted he should have told a manager about the relationship but denied breaching professional behaviour standards.
He joined Hertfordshire Constabulary in 2003 and was promoted to sergeant in 2006.