Disgraced Dorset police officer is found guilty of gross misconduct after ‘inappropriately touching’ and making ‘sexually explicit’ remarks to six female colleagues
- PC Christopher Maidment made unsolicited physical contact to colleagues
- The disgraced police officer also made sexually explicit comments to them
- He was told he would have been sacked had he not already resigned his post
- Improper conduct took place both on and off duty, in person and via messages
A disgraced police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct after ‘inappropriately touching’ female colleagues.
PC Christopher Maidment, who served with Dorset Police, made unsolicited physical contact and sexually explicit comments to at least six women.
He was told at a hearing in Exeter, Devon, that had he would have been sacked had he not already resigned his post.
The improper conduct took place both on and off duty, in person and via messages, between 2019 and 2021.
Christopher Maidment served with Dorset Police, whose Winfrith headquarters are pictured
Mr Maidment had previously been warned about his behaviour but carried on acting inappropriately.
He has been placed on a ‘national policing barred list’ preventing him from being employed again in this profession.
The hearing took place in September but could not be reported until now for legal reasons.
Dorset Police said it liaised with the Crown Prosecution Service and it was decided that Mr Maidment would not be charged with a criminal offence.
The improper conduct took place both on and off duty. The Dorset Police HQ is pictured
Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya, of Dorset Police, said: ‘I would like to commend the bravery and courage of the six women and other witnesses who took the decision to step forward and report this unacceptable behaviour.
‘The force continues to provide support to the victims and witnesses in the case and there was a thorough investigation by the Counter Corruption Unit.
‘There is no place in policing for individuals to behave and offend in this way against their colleagues who were in the workplace providing a professional service to the public.
‘We pride ourselves on the quality of the people who work for Dorset Police and this abhorrent behaviour is not indicative of the overwhelming majority of colleagues.
Mr Maidment had previously been warned about his behaviour. The Dorset Police HQ is above
‘We promote an inclusive culture where everyone should feel safe and thrive in the workplace.
‘This includes encouraging people to challenge and report poor and unacceptable behaviour, which these women did in this case.
‘We have recently introduced bystander training to help remind those who have concerns about an individual or have witnessed behaviour to step forward.
‘We have also introduced a survivor’s group for our staff and officers who have been subject to gender-based violence, internally and externally to the organisation, to provide additional support and to shape our future leadership and policy.’
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