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On-duty PC had sexual encounter with colleague in police van - misconduct hearing | |
(36 minutes later) | |
The former officers were found to have had sexual encounters in a police van | |
An on-duty officer had sexual encounters with an off-duty colleague in a marked police van, a misconduct hearing has heard. | |
Stephen Athawes and Daria Krolewicz were found guilty of gross misconduct at a hearing earlier in March. | Stephen Athawes and Daria Krolewicz were found guilty of gross misconduct at a hearing earlier in March. |
Both former PCs had left their posts before the hearing, Devon and Cornwall Police said. | Both former PCs had left their posts before the hearing, Devon and Cornwall Police said. |
Supt Jo Arundale said "had the officers still been serving, they would have been dismissed without notice". | |
'Undermined trust' | 'Undermined trust' |
Supt Arundale, the force's head of professional standards, said: "On this occasion the behaviour of the officers fell below the standards expected within policing. | Supt Arundale, the force's head of professional standards, said: "On this occasion the behaviour of the officers fell below the standards expected within policing. |
"Through their actions, the officers undermined the public's trust and confidence in the police force and did not fulfil their duties and responsibilities." | "Through their actions, the officers undermined the public's trust and confidence in the police force and did not fulfil their duties and responsibilities." |
The hearing concluded on 9 March and both officers will now be submitted to the College of Policing barred list. | The hearing concluded on 9 March and both officers will now be submitted to the College of Policing barred list. |
The panel heard Mr Athawes had been working on the night of 30 May 2021, when he dropped his crew mate back at a police station. | |
Following the two-day public hearing, the panel concluded that the allegations were proven | |
He then went in a police riot van to collect Ms Krolewicz who had been on a night out in Exeter with friends. | |
They then drove to a secluded car park and church yard. | |
The panel heard how on 17 June, Ms Krolewicz had told a colleague they had not had sex but that they had done "everything else". | |
She also referred to having "done stuff in a vehicle" but did not go into detail, the panel heard. | |
The panel upheld allegations that Mr Athawes had breached the standards appropriate to the conduct of a police officer in respect of honesty and integrity, discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy and duties and responsibilities. | |
It was found he had knowingly planned to collect Ms Krolewicz, who was off-duty, without a policing purpose, and then engaged in sexual encounters in a marked police vehicle with her whilst he was on duty. | |
He also falsely told his supervisor and crew mate he was on a medication run at the time, and so unavailable for response calls, the panel found. | |
Ms Krolewicz was found to have breached the standards appropriate to the conduct of a police officer in respect of discreditable conduct. | |
Following the two-day public hearing, the panel concluded both had breached the expected standards of professional behaviour. | |
The panel determined that had the officers still been serving, they would have been dismissed without notice. | The panel determined that had the officers still been serving, they would have been dismissed without notice. |
Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Devon & Cornwall Police | Devon & Cornwall Police |