Former Essex PC guilty of sexual assault
Steven Tissier, 37, was off duty when he attacked a woman at a house in Boreham
A former Essex Police officer has been convicted of sexual assault following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court after an investigation led by Essex police professional standards department.
Ex-PC Steven Tissier was charged with sexual assault of a woman.
The investigation began after an incident was reported in March 2022.
The former officer, 37, was alleged to have carried out the assault at a property in Boreham whilst off duty.
Police say "The victim, a woman, who legally cannot be named, has consistently been supported".
Ex-PC Tissier denied the charge but was found guilty by a jury today (Thursday 15 February).
He is due to be sentenced on Friday 8 March.
Misconduct Hearing
As a result of the professional standards department criminal investigation, a number of other issues of gross misconduct which were not connected to the criminal investigation were uncovered. These were dealt with separately in an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing ahead of the trial.
A restriction on publication of that outcome was put in place to protect the integrity of the criminal trial.
Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington found that Steven Tissier would have been dismissed without notice had he not already resigned ahead of the hearing.
The hearing heard ex-PC Steven Tissier was alleged to have breached standards relating to honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, orders and instructions, duties and responsibilities, confidentiality and discreditable conduct.
It was alleged that ex-PC Tissier displayed behaviour, actions or words which were misogynistic and was alleged to have sought to meet others while isolating due to Covid-19, in 2021.
He was also alleged to have shared restricted information with others without a valid policing purpose.
It was further alleged that ex-PC Tissier did not disclose notifiable associations and had engaged in substance misuse.
The allegations were heard at an accelerated misconduct hearing on Friday 19 January. Former PC-Tissier did not attend but was represented by the Essex Police Federation.
Of the nine allegations, Mr Harrington found seven had been proven at gross misconduct. Those which were not proven related to using misogynistic language while one of the three elements of the allegation relating to the disclosure of policing information was not found to be proven.
He was also placed on the police barred list.
Ex-PC Tissier’s resignation came into effect on January 18, and he had been suspended from duty since the criminal allegation was made to us in March 2022.
Mr Harrington said: “Ex-PC Tissier is no longer a police officer, but I must first address the fact that this deplorable criminal act took place while he was a serving officer, though he was not on duty. Like all ex-PC Tissier’s colleagues, I am horrified by his actions and my first thoughts are with the victim and those close to her. People like this have no place in policing.
“Policing conduct is rightly under the spotlight, but I want to assure the public that where there is shocking behaviour, as in this case, we will deal with it.
“I want the people of Essex to have the confidence and trust that the officers and staff in this force serve with integrity and have compassion and public service at the centre of everything they do.
“Ex-PC Tissier’s actions will of course damage that trust and the trust of the overwhelming majority of staff and officers who work hard every day to keep this county safe. They too will be horrified.
“Our professional standards department investigate all reports made to them without fear or favour and that work ensures that those people who should not be in our force are weeded out.”
The Chief added: “We expect our officers to live by the oath they’ve taken – fairness, integrity, diligence, impartiality - as they strive to help people, keep people safe and catch criminals. And the vast majority do.”