Police officer failed to stop 'sexualised conversation'
The officer was given a three-year final written warning
- Published
A serving Dorset Police officer has been found guilty of misconduct after he failed to stop colleagues' 鈥渋nappropriate sexualised conversation鈥 on a train.
A panel heard the officer was 鈥渁ware鈥 of the conversation in April 2022 and that he had 鈥渇ailed in his duty to challenge and stop鈥 it.
The officer, whose name and rank cannot be published, was given a final written warning, which will last for three years.
The force鈥檚 Deputy Chief Constable, Steve Lyne, said the 鈥渧ast majority鈥 of its employees were professional.
A public misconduct hearing held at Dorset Police鈥檚 headquarters in Winfrith, which finished on Friday, found there was insufficient evidence to prove that the officer actively engaged in the conversation.
The officer cannot be named because of a decision made by the panel鈥檚 independent chairperson.
Mr Lyne said: 鈥淭his officer failed in his duty to challenge and stop those engaged in the conversation and the outcome of the panel reflects the seriousness of this.
鈥淲e know the vast majority of employees within the organisation are professional and do not demonstrate behaviour that has been heard in this hearing.
"Unfortunately, the actions of colleagues that day did not meet these high standards.鈥
He said Dorset Police was committed to investigating any "unethical or unacceptable behaviour relating to a member of our organisation", adding: "I would encourage members of the public to report them to the force so they can be thoroughly investigated.鈥
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