Police inspector demoted over Grindr messages

A police inspector who contacted two more junior officers on LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr has been demoted after a panel found him guilty of gross misconduct.

The Thames Valley Police (TVP) officer, who has not been formally named, admitted he was "reckless" and was guilty of misconduct but did not accept it amounted to gross misconduct, according to documents published on Thursday.

He said he "had a problem" with his use of the messaging app, was "significantly embarrassed" by it and was sorry.

He was demoted to the rank of police constable but was not sacked after a panel found he "deserved another chance" to prove he was an asset to the force.

During a TVP misconduct hearing earlier in May, the panel heard the inspector met the men at work and later sent them messages.

It said a previous inquiry by TVP's counter corruption unit in August 2022 into an allegation he had sent messages on Grindr to another more junior officer, who was in training, did not result in formal misconduct proceedings.

He had acknowledged at that time it was "highly inappropriate" to message more junior members of staff "on such a platform", said the panel.

However, it said others "significantly junior in rank and service" complained about receiving messages from him in November 2022 and June 2023.

The panel said: "[The officer] should have been aware that knowingly contacting junior subordinate officers on a sexual dating hook-up app was wholly inappropriate and improper and was likely to cause concern to those he messaged.

"To this end, the panel found [the officer] failed to act as a role model in line with the expectations of his rank."

The officer, described by a more senior officer as "one of the best" she had worked with, performed "very well whilst on restricted duties" after the incidents were reported, the panel was told.