A Hertfordshire police sergeant began a sexual relationship with a “vulnerable” colleague despite acting as her welfare officer, and asked junior officers to cover for him with his long-term partner.
Former PS Paul Pickett was, at the time of the incident in 2023, a Police Federation representative and a welfare officer for the female police constable known as PC X. They worked together on the St Albans Safer Neighbourhoods team.
Pickett’s Federation role meant he was responsible for assisting with an ongoing investigation that began after PC X complained about a colleague.
But, despite that responsibility and his awareness that PC X was a young and “vulnerable” officer who had “been the subject of unwanted attention in the recent past”, Pickett began a sexual relationship with her.
It led to Pickett facing a police misconduct hearing.
Pickett had not told senior officers about the relationship but asked junior colleagues to “lie” about the situation to his long-term partner.
The panel heard that in one incident, Pickett had asked a colleague how to change the location settings on his devices.
The colleague said “it was clear that he was using it to hide his location”, and the panel concluded Pickett was “drawing someone else into his deception”.
When Pickett was contacted about the misconduct process, the panel heard, he burned a notice sent to him and said: “I don’t know how clear I have to be; I’m not f***ing interested.”
The panel concluded that his actions amounted to gross misconduct and said he would have been sacked had he not already left the police force.
They found Pickett had breached standards of professional behaviour regarding duties and responsibilities, authority, respect and courtesy, honesty and integrity, and discreditable conduct.
The panel’s report said: “The behaviour of the police, particularly inappropriate behaviour towards women, was a matter of national concern in relation to violence against women and girls.
“The panel took the view that as an experienced officer and role model for younger officers, former PS Pickett should have known better.
“[He] had deflected and minimised his inappropriate conduct with PC X.
“The former officer engaged in an emotional and sexual relationship with a junior member of staff, whom he knew to be vulnerable.
“He then failed to disclose this relationship and asked other junior members of his team to lie for him to cover up his relationship with PC X.”
Pickett had admitted he should have told his manager about the relationship but denied breaching the police’s behaviour standards.
He joined Hertfordshire Constabulary in 2003 and was promoted to sergeant in 2006.
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