Northumbria Police officer fired for having sex while on duty

Ian Dawson, of Northumbria Police, arranged to meet a member of the public, known as Ms A, for sex while carrying out his work in police uniform and while driving a marked police van.

The allegations against Dawson came to light during a misconduct hearing at Middle Engine Lane on December 20 last year - when he was accused of two counts of gross misconduct.

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The first allegation saw him collect Ms A from her house in the police vehicle and drive her to a supermarket car park, arriving just after midnight on September 8, 2020. The officer engaged in sexual activity with Ms A in the back of the van before driving her back home.

The second allegation related to a potentially inappropriate relationship with another member of staff, known as Ms B, in October 2021.

He denied on two occasions that he was in a romantic and/ or sexual relationship with Ms B and deliberately provided a false statement to his supervisor.

During the misconduct hearing, which was chaired by Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, Winton Keenen, the panel heard how Dawson was alleged to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour.

He was found to have committed gross misconduct on both counts.

The Chief Constable chose to dismiss him without notice for the discreditable conduct count.

This related to him having sexual activity in the police vehicle while on-duty.

He handed the officer a final written warning for the honesty and integrity count, which related to him deliberately providing a false statement about being in a relationship with another member of staff.

Mr Keenen recorded that there was "clear evidence" of the officer's culpability.

He said: "PC Dawson entered willingly and on his own admissions into an agreement that resulted in him engaging in sexual activity, whilst on-duty and utilising a police vehicle in a public place for such purpose."

The Chief Constable said there is an "understandable expectation" of the public that police officers will act, at-all-times, in ways that do not discredit the public service to which they dedicate their working lives.

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He recorded: "This has always been the case, but now, perhaps more than ever, there is a recognisable increase in the expectations of the public regarding the behaviours of serving officers and particularly so as regards behaviours involving sexual activity.

"As such, I determine the aspect of harm relating to public confidence is clearly made out."

The Chief Constable told the hearing that the "appropriate" and "only acceptable outcome" was Dismissal Without Notice. The officer will be placed on the barred list.