Cambridge officer sent messages to vulnerable woman he met on duty
A police officer who sent personal messages to a vulnerable 18-year-old woman he met while working in Cambridge has been dismissed without notice for gross misconduct
A police officer has been dismissed after a misconduct hearing found he sent messages from his personal phone to an 18-year-old woman he had come across during the course of his duties.
PC Neil Woodley, who was based at Parkside Police Station in Cambridge, contacted the woman between September 2022 and April 2023. She was in a vulnerable position when he met her.
The misconduct hearing took place at Cambridgeshire Constabulary Headquarters yesterday (3 July). It followed an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
On 4 April, Woodley appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court and was fined £957 after admitting to knowingly or recklessly retaining personal data without consent.
Chief Constable Nick Dean said: “The police service and the public expect that all its officers and staff act in a manner that does not bring discredit to the service or harm its reputation.
“They also expect that all officers act with the utmost professionalism. The authority that is bestowed upon police officers must be respected by all, not least by the officer who holds the office of constable.
“The public expect that these standards are upheld and, in addition, officers to show due respect and take their responsibilities on and off duty seriously. The conduct displayed falls way short of these standards.”