Police officer dismissed for social media contact

A police officer who contacted a woman on Instagram after meeting her during a domestic welfare check-up has been dismissed.

Following a hearing this week, Northamptonshire Police found that the unnamed officer had committed gross misconduct.

Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet said the officer's messages showed he had taken "an emotional or romantic interest" in the woman and wanted to explore "an inappropriate personal relationship" with her.

Balhatchet, who chaired Monday's hearing, said: "The only appropriate sanction in this case is dismissal without notice."

The hearing was told the officer first met the woman on 9 January 2025 when he was on duty.

He had been tasked with checking on her welfare following a "disturbance" between the woman and her ex-partner.

The officer was warned she had previously self-harmed, meaning he was aware that she was "a potentially vulnerable member of the public", Balhatchet said.

During the visit, the officer disclosed that his girlfriend had broken up with him that day.

He later sent her a friend request from his personal Instagram account, which she accepted, and they exchanged messages before she blocked him.

The hearing was told that "while the messages were not overtly sexual in nature, the officer said [the woman] was 'beautiful' and 'definitely someone I want to get to know better'."

He asked what kind of dates she liked to go on and suggested they covered up how they met.

The officer admitted that the request was a mistake, but he did not attempt to "unfollow" the woman on social media.

It was alleged that he had breached standards of professional behaviour.

He was present at the hearing and admitted the allegation.

Balhatchet said: "No other sanction would be adequate to uphold public confidence in policing and maintain the high standards that I expect of officers, particularly in relation to the protection of women and girls."

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