Essex policeman sacked for 'relationship' with vulnerable victim
An Essex police officer has been sacked over an "inappropriate relationship with a vulnerable woman" he met while investigating a crime.
The 45-year-old officer, not named but formerly based at Colchester police station, had been working on restricted duties since March 2013.
"He was found to have breached conduct regulations of honesty, integrity and conduct," a police statement said.
The man was dismissed without notice after a gross misconduct hearing.
Mark Gilmartin, director of support services at Essex Police, decided to dismiss the officer without notice but this decision may be subject to appeal.
He said the officer met a vulnerable victim in his policing capacity and engaged in a relationship which was inappropriate.
"The seriousness of our findings involving the officer's relationship with a vulnerable individual and the steps he took to conceal it are significant," Mr Gilmartin said.
"The public are entitled to expect the very highest standards when dealing with vulnerable individuals who require police help.
"The officer not only fell far from those standards but behaved in a way which we consider to have been utterly unacceptable and potentially damaging to a woman in a vulnerable situation."