Gross misconduct proven against former Cambridgeshire Constabulary officer
Former PC Benjamin Mace, aged 41 visited a woman off duty in uniform, using police handcuffs during a private encounter, breaching professional standards
A disciplinary panel has concluded that a former Cambridgeshire police officer, based in Peterborough who used police handcuffs during a private encounter would have been dismissed if he had not already resigned.
Former PC Benjamin Mace, aged 41, resigned before a misconduct hearing that found he breached professional standards. The panel determined his actions, including visiting a woman in uniform while off duty and using police-issue handcuffs during a sexual encounter, amounted to gross misconduct.
Mace, met the woman in 2019 via a dating app, where he disclosed his role as a police officer. After messaging for about a month, he visited her home in police uniform without any official purpose and used the handcuffs during their meeting. He resigned in October 2021, prior to the hearing.
An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation found his behaviour violated standards of honesty, integrity, and conduct. The panel’s findings mean he will be added to the police barred list, preventing future employment in law enforcement.
Charmaine Arbouin, IOPC regional director, commented: “The public have a right to expect police officers to maintain high levels of professionalism and integrity, whether on or off duty. PC Mace abused his position as a police officer and his actions are a discredit to policing and undermine the public’s confidence in the service.”
The IOPC investigation began after a referral in May 2020 and concluded in early 2021. Although the Crown Prosecution Service initially authorised a charge of sexual assault, it was later dropped.