A police officer has been sacked from Hertfordshire Constabulary for conducting in sexual activity with a ‘vulnerable’ woman he met while he was on duty.

On 25th January 2018 a panel at a Misconduct Hearing found that PC Andrew Sweeney had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour namely Authority, Respect and Courtesy and Discreditable Conduct.

The panel found that these breaches amounted to Gross Misconduct.

The findings relate to an incident on September 1, 2016 when PC Sweeney was on duty and gave a vulnerable female member of the public a lift home in a marked police vehicle.

During the journey, telephone numbers were exchanged and messages were sent between the pair.

Once PC Sweeney finished his tour of duty he visited the home address of the female where a consensual sexual liaison took place.

Deputy Chief Constable Michelle Dunn said he had been dismissed without notice.

She said: “PC Sweeney’s behaviour was totally unacceptable and it is quite right that he has been dismissed without notice.

“He grossly breached the high standards of professional conduct and ethical behaviour that we and the public expect from the police service.

“There is no place in Hertfordshire Constabulary for those who exploit vulnerable people, especially when we should be there to protect and support them.”

David Lloyd, Police Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire added: “PC Andrew Sweeney’s behaviour brought the excellent reputation of Hertfordshire Constabulary into disrepute. He failed to live up to the high standards we rightly expect of our officers and broke the trust of a vulnerable person. He fundamentally undermined the position of police officer.

“I welcome the decision of the panel and am pleased that the message from Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable has been so clear: this conduct will not be tolerated and the Constabulary will make sure that officers who break the rules are held to account for their behaviour.

“I also welcome the fact that these hearings now take place in public, which demonstrates how seriously complaints against the police are taken and the firm action which is taken as a result.”