A police officer who contacted a vulnerable teenage girl and sent her a sexual message was told on Thursday, April 15, his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.
Mohammed Huzair, who was based in Watford, had first met the 18-year-old as he investigated the theft of a car.
At first she was viewed as a possible a suspect, but that changed and matters against her were “no further actioned.”
However, 10 days later, Huzair – a Hertfordshire police constable with 16 years experience – sent the girl an inappropriate sexual message on Snapchat and met up with her while on duty.
On Thursday, April 15, a misconduct hearing was held the force’s headquarters in Welwyn Garden City presided over by Chief Constable Charlie Hall.
He had to decided if the officer, who is in his 30s, had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour so as to amount to gross misconduct.
The hearing, at which Huzair was present, was told he had resigned from Hertfordshire Police after he was investigated over actions and behaviour concerning the girl last summer.
For the police service, Natalia Allodi-Robertson told the hearing: “The case against him is abuse of his position for sexual gain.”
In June of last year the officer had met the teenager and, during his dealings with her, learned from her father that because of “past experiences” she was vulnerable.
The officer had even visited her and her family at home to give “safeguarding advice.”
Eventually it was decided that no further action was to be taken against the girl.
Days later, the officer sent the Snapchat message which the hearing was told was sexual in nature.
The hearing was told that when it was discovered what the officer had done and he was questioned, he admitted sending the message.
Miss Allodi-Robertson told the hearing: “He said his partner had allowed him to have one sexual encounter with another person and he had chosen her.”
The hearing was told the matter had not gone beyond the sending of the message.
Huzair told the hearing he had shown “a terrible lack of judgement” at a time when he was under stress and he apologised to the Chief Constable.
“It was something completely out of character for me and something I would not normally do,” he told the court.
He said he accepted he had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of his integrity, discreditable conduct, authority respect and courtesy and that such breach amounted to gross misconduct.
Huzair said he thought the teenager had made the initial contact and, in replying, he said he had been “reaching out.”
He went on “In my head it was just being flirty and not thought out and stupid and insensitive.”
Chief Constable Hall said he found that Huzair’s behaviour and the breaches of the Standards of Professional Behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.
He said as an officer he should have considered the teenager’s vulnerability and he owed her a duty of care.
Such behaviour, he said undermined public trust.
PC Huzair, said the chief constable, had indicated in his messages to the teenager that: “He would be willing for sexual activity to progress beyond mere messaging.”
He said the officer’s actions had caused considerable upset and anxiety to the family of the teenager.
He then told Huzair: “You have seriously breached the trust placed in you as a police officer.”
Chief Constable Hall said had Huzair not already resigned, he would have been immediately dismissed from the force without notice
His name will also be added to a list of people barred from ever joining the police.
