A policeman who abused his position by chasing women he met whilst on the beat has been blasted by an internal misconduct panel for his behaviour.
Seedy Norman Watson, who quit the police force before the hearing took place this week was found to have established ‘emotional and/or sexual relationships’ with three women since early last year.
PC Watson was caught by his superiors last August when they searched and examined his work phone and other devices.
From the initial probe, intelligenc e discovered conversations between the officer and the women he had met through policing.
PC Watson, who had served for 13 years, was suspended when his behaviour came to light and the Independent Office for Police Conduct, (IOPC), was informed. The IOPC has released details of the case.
In messages to a woman he met in May last year following a death in her family PC Watson - who ended his posts with kisses - shared his personal phone number and encouraged her to use it, the IOPC said.
The Leicestershire policeman also told her he wished he could have “taken her in his arms” on the first day they met.
PC Watson entered into a romantic relationship with a second woman whose daughter had raised concerns with police following a suspected overdose in January this year, the police watchdog said.
The woman was given PC Watson’s phone number when she contacted the force to thank him and within weeks, the pair were in a romantic relationship which the officer kept secret from his supervisors.
In text messages to a third woman, the officer used language deemed inappropriate, including the words “hun” and “darling”. Of 300 text messages, 17 were deemed inappropriate, according to the IOPC.
PC Watson was also found to have accessed confidential police systems to obtain personal personal information about one of the women without ‘lawful authority’ while off duty.
The allegations of gross misconduct made against PC Watson were found proven at a hearing chaired by Chief Constable Simon Cole at force headquarters, in Enderby, on Tuesday. (November 16)
It concluded that he would have been sacked immediately had he still been a serving officer, according to Leicestershire Live.
Speaking after the hearing, Derrick Campbell, regional director for the IOPC said: “Police officers are held to certain standards when it comes to their interactions with members of the public and they are expected to conduct themselves professionally.
“The abuse of police powers for purposes of sexual exploitation is a form of serious corruption.
“It has a devastating impact on victims, and a serious impact on the public’s confidence in individual officers and the service in general.
“It is important there are effective systems in place to prevent, monitor and deal swiftly with any individual who exploits that trust.
“Our independent investigation concluded that the officer in this case abused his position by actively pursuing inappropriate relationships with female members of the public.
“In doing so, he has breached the police standards of professional behaviour, betrayed a vulnerable woman, and has undermined public confidence in police.
“Following an accelerated gross misconduct hearing, it was determined the force would have dismissed the officer without notice, had he still been serving, which sends a clear message that such behaviour has no part in policing.”
Leicestershire Police also published the outcome of the hearing on the force website, stating: “Following a misconduct hearing yesterday (16 November), the allegations were found proven and it was determined that had former Pc Norman Watson still been serving in the force, he would have been dismissed.”
Details of the case have been sent to the College of Policing which maintains a ‘barred list’ to prevent sacked officers returning.
