Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Headline: Officer dismissed following misconduct hearing
A serving Detective Constable has been formally dismissed from the Metropolitan Police Service following a misconduct hearing.
DC Darren Stedman attached to the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command faced allegations that his conduct amounted to a breach of the Met’s standards of professional behaviour in respect of ‘confidentiality’, ‘duties and responsibilities’ and ‘discreditable conduct’.
He was dismissed at a misconduct hearing held on Thursday, 25 January.
It was alleged that in 2009, DC Stedman had a sexual relationship with a woman who was a suspect in a domestic abuse case, having investigated her in 2008 for an assault on her child.
It was also alleged that he accessed crime reports on 23 January 2011 and 17 July 2013 relating to this woman, not for a legitimate policing purpose but for the purpose of providing information to her.
Furthermore, in two unrelated matters it is alleged he took and retained a scenes of crime album;
edited confidential ABE interviews of three victims at his home address without authorisation.
The Chair, having considered all of the evidence found the case of gross misconduct proven and that he had breached the standards of professional behaviour.
He was subsequently dismissed without notice.