Two PSNI officers dismissed for filming 18 vulnerable people on duty
Two Police Service of Northern Ireland officers have been sacked after recording videos and photos of 18 vulnerable people they were sent to help.
PSNI officers sacked after filming vulnerable people, including woman asked about sex life
Two male Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers have been dismissed following an investigation that found they had recorded videos and photographs of 18 vulnerable people during the course of their duties, bbc.com reports.
In one recording, a woman with learning difficulties was filmed in her bed and questioned about her sex life. The two officers, referred to in proceedings as Officers A and B, had been dispatched to her home in 2021 following a concern for her safety.
Police Ombudsman Jacqui Durkin described their conduct as "utterly despicable". Some of the material was shared on WhatsApp — including with a member of the public — and contained "sexualised, derogatory and demeaning commentary".
How the recordings came to light
The case emerged during an investigation into Officer A, who had been accused of forming a relationship with a woman he encountered in the line of duty. A search of his home and workplace led to the seizure of electronic devices.
Examination of those devices revealed recordings and images of individuals who had sought police assistance, reported crimes, were intoxicated, or were considered at risk of self-harm. Some were filmed inside their own homes, others in hospitals or police vehicles. The material spanned the period from 2016 to 2021.
Five videos on Officer A's phone showed an elderly and apparently vulnerable man, captured both in his home and on a street from a police car. The footage exposed the poor state of his living conditions, with Officer A making mocking remarks about the man's sex life.
Two further videos were taken of women involved in a neighbour dispute, one of whom was intoxicated. Officer B photographed two vulnerable women and shared those images with Officer A, along with messages referring to the women in derogatory terms.
Ombudsman and senior officers condemn behaviour
Durkin said almost all of those affected had been vulnerable, "some extremely so". She added that the former officers "showed no respect for people's privacy or dignity at their time of need and seriously undermined their trust and confidence in policing".
The ombudsman submitted files to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in relation to the images, videos and messages found on Officer A's devices. The referral covered potential misconduct in public office by Officer A and potential data protection offences by both officers.
The PPS directed that neither should be prosecuted. It stated the decision was based on "insufficient evidence to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction". Proceedings for data protection offences were described as "already statute barred" given the time elapsed between the alleged offences and the PPS receiving the files. The PPS noted, however, that this "does not diminish the gravity of the professional misconduct identified".
The PPS also noted that offences under the Communications Act would have been relevant had they not already been statute barred before the ombudsman discovered the material.
Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton described the officers' conduct as "horrifying", adding that it "represented a serious breach of trust, particularly affecting people who were entitled to care, compassion and professional support at times of acute vulnerability". Singleton said the dismissals reflected how seriously all misconduct cases are taken.
Policing Board vice-chair Mukesh Sharma called the behaviour "shameful and disgusting", saying the officers "showed a callous disregard to people at their most vulnerable and breached the trust placed in them from those seeking help".
Justice minister condemns actions
Justice Minister Naomi Long said she was "deeply saddened" by the behaviours outlined in the report, condemning them as "abhorrent, wholly unacceptable and completely indefensible". Long added that such conduct "does not represent the bravery, decency and compassion that the majority of police officers display in their jobs".
A third officer, Officer C, received a final written warning. A fourth, Officer D, faced no disciplinary action after stating they had been unaware that Officer A was recording during an incident at which they were present.
The PPS encouraged anyone who has experienced criminal or professional misconduct to report their concerns.
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)