A Greater Manchester Police officer sent 'grossly inappropriate' messages to a vulnerable victim of domestic abuse. The force's Chief Constable, Sir Stephen Watson, ruled Masood Meah would have been sacked over his actions had he not already resigned as a constable.
Misconduct hearing findings
A misconduct hearing took place at GMP headquarters on July 14, with Sir Stephen's ruling now published. In it, he said former PC Meah first came into contact with the woman during the course of his duties. He was said to have actively 'followed' and submitted 'commentary and emojis' relating to the woman on social media over a 'protracted period'.
Mr Meah was warned off by a friend of hers, but the ruling says he 'continued to engage' and responses to her posts 'included various emojis and commentary which can only be interpreted as intimately familiar and designed to flatter'.
Chief Constable's determination
Sir Stephen said he found that in his view, the former officer was 'apparently seeking or encouraging some form of emotional or sexual relationship with a highly vulnerable person'. Mr Meah, the hearing was told, accepted his conduct was 'inappropriate' and constituted a breach in the standards of professional behaviour for a police officer, but denied it amounted to gross misconduct. Sir Stephen, however, said he found gross misconduct to be proven.
He said that had Mr Meah not already resigned from the force, he would have been sacked. Sir Stephen, in his ruling, said: "Notwithstanding the officer's denial of motive or intent, it is my clear determination, on the balance of probabilities, that the messaging was rendered grossly inappropriate given their character, which I conclude to have been designed to evince some form of emotional or sexual relationship with female A."
Conduct and consequences
He said Mr Meah's conduct was 'persistent and unforced' and occurred 'over a protracted period of time'. The Chief called his conduct 'reprehensible and morally indefensible, and contrary to the standards and values of the force'.
"Mr Meah's conduct in this matter clearly falls far below the behaviours and standards that the public have every right to expect," Sir Stephen said. The ex-officer's name was added to the College of Policing's 'Barred List', preventing him from working within the police again.
