A police officer who “abused their position for a sexual purpose” has been sacked after getting into a relationship with a woman who he took a statement from.
Sussex Police PC David Mendes met the woman after she reported being harassed by a former partner in February 2020. After Mendes was added to a WhatsApp group with the woman, the couple became involved with each other before moving in together.
PC Mendes’ supervisor, PS Victoria Ambrose, introduced the couple to each other but failed to report that they had moved in with each other. She was also dismissed after making misleading notes in her notebook disguising the relationship.
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct found that PC Mendes, based at Hastings police station, attended a barbecue hosted by PS Ambrose with the woman. The pair reportedly acted “like a couple” throughout the event.
PS Ambrose later told PC Mendes that she would “play clever” about his relationship and told vetting departments that he was “sofa-surfing” with friends rather than living with the woman.
IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: "When officers abuse their position for a sexual purpose, it threatens to undermine the public’s trust that the vast majority of officers work extremely hard to build.
"PC Mendes met this woman through the course of his duties and then started communicating via a WhatsApp group. He then failed to report that he was in a relationship with her.
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"PS Ambrose was an experienced officer in a position of responsibility and after learning of the officer’s inappropriate relationship with a victim of crime, she should have challenged or promptly reported the matter. She also lied to the vetting department, failing to give the full extent of her knowledge of the situation to them.
"The officers have learnt that their actions have serious consequences and both have now been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list meaning they cannot work in policing again."
PC Mendes was dismissed for breaching professional standards including on honesty, authority and respect.
PC Ambrose was dismissed for not challenging and reporting the improper conduct.
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