Two PSNI officers sacked over ‘utterly despicable’ behaviour toward vulnerable people

Detailed summary

One incident saw officer record video of a woman with learning difficulties in bed while he made sexualised comments ...

A police officer in Northern Ireland who recorded a video of a woman with learning difficulties in bed while he made sexualised comments has been sacked.

Police Ombudsman Jacqui Durkin has described the behaviour of the two former Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers towards vulnerable people they had been tasked to assist as “utterly despicable”.

PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton has described the behaviour of the two officers as “horrifying”.

An ombudsman investigation found that Police Officer A recorded videos and took pictures of people who had requested police assistance, reported crimes, were intoxicated or considered at risk of self-harm.

The videos and images were captured in people’s homes, in hospitals and in police vehicles, Durkin said.

Some were shared on WhatsApp, including with a member of the public – often accompanied with sexualised and derogatory commentary.

The ombudsman said 18 people were identified as having been referenced in messages, videos and photographs found on personal mobile phones belonging to Officer A between 2016 and 2021.

The second officer, Police Officer B, took photographs of two vulnerable women, which he then shared with Officer A along with messages that referred to the women in derogatory terms.

The ombudsman said in June 2021 the two officers had been tasked to the home of a woman with learning difficulties and mental health needs after a report of a concern for her safety.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The Irish Times. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.