A WEST Mercia Police officer has been found to have abused his position by having inappropriate contact with two vulnerable women he met through his policing duties.

Former constable Michael Harrison was found to have breached four standards of professional behaviour which amounted to gross misconduct during a misconduct hearing which concluded on Thursday, (February 3).

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) carried out the investigation and found, between November 2018 and August 2019, the officer formed an emotional and sexual relationship with one woman and used his work mobile phone to exchange sexually graphic images with her.

The IOPC also discovered, between January and July 2019, the 33-year-old engaged in unprofessional, flirtatious communication through social media with another woman from his work phone, and accessed police systems for information about her for no policing purpose.

He was also accused of using his work phone, while on and off duty, to access an online dating site and send and receive images of an explicit nature.

The IOPC began investigations following referrals about the officer’s conduct from West Mercia Police in 2019. Investigators interviewed the officer, examined his mobile phone, reviewed force systems, and obtained statements from several witnesses, including the women involved.

In September 2020 the IOPC submitted its report to West Mercia Police with the view PC Harrison, from the North Worcestershire Policing Area, had a case to answer.

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Now a panel, led by an independent legally qualified chairman, found he breached four standards - integrity, authority, respect and courtesy, duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct by sending inappropriate messages to a vulnerable member of the public.

The panel imposed a sanction of dismissal without notice.

Deputy Chief Constable Julian Moss, said: “I want to be very clear, that we will not accept this behaviour in our force.

"It is a form of serious corruption. We will continue with rigor to rid your police service of corrupt officers.

"Michael Harrison has been added to the College of Policing Barred List."

IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said: “Cases where police officers abuse their position for a sexual purpose represent a serious form of corruption. This officer’s behaviour evidenced with two vulnerable women was wholly unacceptable."