Northumbria Police officer sacked after subjecting colleague to 'unwanted touching' on work night out

Another complaint against PC Grant Parker detailed how he met a woman in a coffee shop for around three hours while dressed in his police uniform.

A third dealt with by senior members of the force set out how he was at the home of a woman, a member of the public, when he showed her confidential policing material.

The force has now said it has dismissed him without notice following a five-day misconduct hearing, which found all three allegations proven, putting him in breach of its professional standards.

It was held in private due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, but his superiors have confirmed details of the sessions following its conclusion.

Superintendent Steve Ammari, head of professional standards at Northumbria Police, said: “We expect officers and staff to maintain the highest standards at all times and if anyone is found to have fallen below these we are committed to taking appropriate action.

“On Friday, the panel of an independently-chaired misconduct hearing concluded Grant Parker had breached the standards of professional behaviour and that it amounted to gross misconduct.

"The panel determined he should be dismissed without notice.

“We want to make it extremely clear that his behaviour was completely unacceptable.

“In doing so, we want to reassure the public that the actions of this individual are in no way representative of the officers and staff who every single day display the highest levels of professionalism and commitment to the communities we are proud to serve.”

The hearing was told his actions breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour, in particular: discreditable conduct; orders and instructions and confidentiality and amounted to gross misconduct.

It holds misconduct hearings when an officer or a member of its staff faces an allegation of gross misconduct.

Northumbria Police says anyone found to have breached the relevant standards of professional behaviour they may be dismissed.

It has confirmed the officer was based in Newcastle, serving the central area for the force, before his dismissal.

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