Telford PC sacked for having sex in police car with volunteer officer he was mentoring

A Telford police officer has been sacked after a panel heard he engaged in sexual acts inside a police car with a new special constable he had been mentoring.

The pair had sex in an official vehicle while on duty including on one occasion as they were being called to a search for a missing person, a West Mercia Police misconduct panel heard.

They also engaged in sexual activity in a McDonald's car park and at a supermarket petrol station, both in Telford. PC Kieran Gale had a “desire” to have sex in or on a police car, the panel heard.

The relationship between PC Gale and the volunteer officer, referred to as Ms A in the panel’s report, began “within a few shifts” of them meeting in 2018 and they exchanged sexually explicit images and messages.

A three-day hearing at the end of September was told by Ms A that she and PC Gale got on well together and that she enjoyed working with him.

A panel chaired by assistant chief officer Craig Holden at West Mercia Police headquarters at Hindlip Hall found that the officer had "downplayed his responsibilities as a mentor and denied that he had abused a position of trust”.

PC Gale had denied that his behaviour amounted to misconduct but the panel found it amounted to gross misconduct. They "could not identify any mitigating factors which reduced the culpability or harm”.

In its ruling the panel noted: "Public trust in the police, if they were aware of all the facts, would be significantly undermined by his actions, especially given the current climate of concern regarding the behaviour of police officers towards women and girls.

"Knowing that police officers engage in sexual acts while on duty and in a public area undermines public confidence and damages the reputation of the service."

The matter was brought to the attention of the professional standards department in June 2024, after another police officer’s phone had been seized as part of a separate investigation.

The panel found that Ms A’s evidence was consistent, with no apparent animosity towards PC Gale, while he had been “verbose and unconvincing” in giving his.

The panel found that because the sexual acts were “reciprocated and given freely” there was no breach of the standard of authority, respect and courtesy, but that PC Gale had breached the standard of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct.

"He had abused his authority by taking part in sexual activities with Ms A whilst they were both on duty and using a police vehicle.

"On the second incident, Ms A told the panel that they had been asked to look for a missing person at which time the officer and Ms A were engaged in sexual activity, impacting their participation in the search."

The panel noted that officers, police staff and others working for the service "must keep in mind at all times that the public expect you to maintain the highest standards of behaviour”.

"You must, therefore, always think about how a member of the public may regard your behaviour, whether on or off duty.

"Clearly, by his actions, PC Gale demonstrably failed to abide by this instruction."

They continued: "It was the panel’s view that a reasonable member of the public would be outraged by the sexual activity taking place both on duty and in a public space.

"He breached the trust placed in him as a mentor by undertaking an improper relationship with Ms A, irrespective of her willingness.

"He accepted when giving evidence that, in retrospect, he had created a conflict of interest by pursuing his relationship with Ms A."

PC Gale offered an apology to the hearing and to Ms A, stating that his character has changed since 2018 when he was experiencing difficult personal circumstances.

The panel also noted his good record of service and the six character statements which had been provided.

"There was no sanction other than dismissal that sufficiently marked the seriousness of the misconduct," the panel concluded.

"Engaging in sexual activity while on duty, while in a public place and with a volunteer colleague who the officer was mentoring can attract no sanction less than dismissal."

The panel dismissed PC Gale without notice and he will be placed on the barred list.