Two police officers who took explicit photos of a woman while on duty have been convicted of gross misconduct.
PC Mark Crompton, who had a casual sexual relationship with the woman, was sacked from Hertfordshire police on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, following the a misconduct hearing.
His colleague PC Ben Pitelen, 45, was jailed for 25 months earlier this month after officers found more than 500 indecent images of children on his electronic devices.
Investigators also discovered pictures of the woman that had been taken nine years earlier. He had been dismissed last September.
Sex toy
The hearing at Hertfordshire police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City was told one image of the woman showed her on a bed with a sex toy.
There were other explicit images of her taken at her home and, from five days earlier, in the back of a police car. Outlining the case, Edward Pleeth told Hertfordshire Chief Constable Charlie Hall that on December 30, 2012, PC Crompton, a traffic officer, was on duty with PC B (Ben Pitelen) in a police Volvo Estate when he picked up Ms A for no legitimate reason.
Ms A, who was drunk or had been drinking, exposed herself and Pitelen took explicit photos of her. PC Crompton was said to be aware of the photograph being taken and failed to stop or report it.
Then on January 4, 2013, PC Crompton, now 36, and PC Pitelen were crewed together again. While on duty they went to Ms A’s home, again without a legitimate reason.
Ms A was encouraged to use a sex toy and Crompton took a photograph of PC Pitelen in uniform standing next to the woman, who was naked from the waist down.
Explicit photographs
Crompton was said to be present when more explicit photos were taken of the woman. It was also alleged PC Crompton failed to adequately report or challenge PC B on that occasion. In a statement Ms A said she had met PC Crompton socially. At the time she was “living a complicated and chaotic life.”
Mr Pleeth said: “She explains she met PC Crompton socially and they engaged in a consensual sexual relationship. “She was asked about the photographs in the car on December 30, and said she could not remember.
She thinks she may have been on a night out. “As to the photographs at her own address, she explains they were taken by PC Crompton and PC B. She said the meeting would have been arranged by PC Crompton.
“She said they were not at her home for very long. There were no cups of tea. All she remember is the photos. “They just wanted the photos and left.”
Mr Pleeth went on: “She said she probably agreed to the photos for a laugh and did not think they would be stored for nine years.”
She said she probably agreed to being photographed in her bedroom “just to shut them up.”
Exposed breasts
When questioned by the force’s Professional Standards Investigators, PC Crompton, admitted that Ms A had exposed her breasts in the back of the police car and Pitelen had taken photographs.
Five days later, he said he said he would have arranged to go to the woman’s house because he did not want to lose face in front of the other officer, who was more senior. He accepted his conduct was entirely inappropriate, said Mr Pleeth.
Paul Waverley, for PC Crompton, who has been in the force for 17 and a half years, said he admitted the two events amounted to gross misconduct, but said he disputed the charge of failing to report as that would have incriminated himself.
Mr Wakerley said the officer had made full admissions when first asked about his behaviour. He said Crompton had been the less senior officer on the two occasions. He said he had not been a ‘predatory’ officer.
The relationship with Ms A had been formed in his personal life. The Chief Constable was given a bundle of character references including one from a Chief Inspector. He was told PC Crompton had been commended eight times, five of them after this event.
PC Crompton, who was supported at the hearing by his wife, said he did not report what happened because he was “scared he would end up” in a disciplinary hearing.
The officer who cried in the hearing, told the Chief Constable: “I am incredibly sorry, to the organisation, my family, my parents and the public who I have served loyally for 17 and a half years.”
Gross misconduct
The Chief Constable ruled that PC Crompton had been found guilty of gross misconduct in relation to all four allegations. He dismissed PC Crompton without notice.
Chief Constable Hall said: “I am in no doubt the behaviour here has been significant and serious. Although this was some nine years ago it was as inappropriate then as it would be today.”
He went on: “There can be no doubt this causes significant potential harm to trust and confidence in policing from the public.
“The professionalism and integrity of police officers is paramount to enable policing to continue to police with consent of the public.
This behaviour significantly challenges that and has come to light at a time when there is a particularly acute local and national challenge in that regard.
“The behaviour in question – albeit nine years ago – will speak further to the questions active in society about the culture around such issues.
There is no place in police for such behaviour. It has serious implications for trust and confidence in policing more widely.”
He told PC Crompton: “Your behaviour was an abuse of your position. You betrayed the trust placed in you by myself and the public.”
The Chief Constable acknowledge the officer’s achievements and commendations, but added: “Frankly what happened cannot be defended, it was disgraceful behaviour for an on duty officer. I believe the public will agree with me that what happened here was outrageous and will have significantly damage public confidence.”
Crompton will be placed on a national barred list, preventing him from joining any other police force.
