A GMP officer had inappropriate relationships with two women he met while on duty and pursued at least four more. When PC Simon Beech was arrested, he told two of the women not to speak to police or investigators from a watchdog.
Now a disciplinary panel has ruled he would have been dismissed without notice if he had not already resigned. A two-day hearing organised by the force found the officer abused his position for a sexual purpose.
After an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), an independently chaired panel found gross misconduct proven against former PC Beech, who was based in Stretford Police Station.
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PC Beech met the women after attending crimes in which the women either reported or were a witness to. Investigators discovered that just under 300 phone calls and texts were recorded in the space of a month to one of the numbers linked to the women.
In a statement, the IOPC said: "We received a mandatory conduct referral from the force in July 2017 and began an independent investigation, which concluded in November 2018. IOPC investigators arrested PC Beech and searched his home in July 2017.
"Some of the women identified through the phone calls and messages provided statements to IOPC investigators. One woman told us she met PC Beech after being a witness to a crime and she had provided a phone number.
"Investigators found evidence of PC Beech attempting to pursue inappropriate relationships with four other women by messaging them and this was found proven by the panel. There were also allegations about contacting two of the women after his arrest and telling them not to speak to the IOPC or Greater Manchester Police about the matter. Again, the panel found these proven.
"The disciplinary hearing determined that the former officer had breached police standards of professional behaviour for discreditable conduct and authority, respect and courtesy."
IOPC Regional Director Amanda Rowe said: “Abuse of position for sexual purpose is a form of serious corruption and it’s clear that PC Beech showed a complete disregard to the high standards expected of officers by forming inappropriate relationships with women he met while on duty.
“This abuse of trust seriously risked undermining public confidence in the police and we welcome the panel’s decision. The outcome today should provide a clear message to any officer who misconduct themselves in such a way, that they will be held to account and can and will face serious consequences for their actions.”
GMP Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said: "It goes without saying that Beech's behaviour was below the high standards expected of a police officer, both by Greater Manchester Police and members of the public in the communities we serve. The women he approached should not have been subjected to this abuse of position as a result of their contact with GMP and if he was still serving he would have been dismissed him from his position.
“We will not tolerate any behaviour which does not reflect the integrity and authority which comes with wearing a police uniform, and I’m grateful to the IOPC for their thorough investigation and to the panel for their findings, which I whole heartedly support. Building public trust and confidence in the Force is one of our highest priorities, and I trust that this outcome demonstrates that any behaviour which undermines this will be investigated and dealt with accordingly by our Professional Standards Branch and the Independent Office for Police Conduct."
