Police officers sacked for 'despicable' on-duty filming of vulnerable people
Summary
Two PSNI officers were dismissed for taking photos and videos of 18 vulnerable people they encountered while on duty between 2016 and 2021. The material included demeaning comments and was shared in some cases; prosecutors declined to charge either officer, citing insufficient evidence and time limits on some offences.Key Facts
- One officer filmed a woman with learning difficulties in bed and asked about her sex life.
- The people filmed or photographed included elderly, intoxicated, and at-risk individuals encountered in homes, hospitals, and police vehicles.
- Some images and videos were shared through WhatsApp, including with a member of the public.
- The investigation began after Officer A was accused of having a relationship with a woman he met through his duties.
- Police Ombudsman Jacqui Durkin said the conduct violated people’s privacy and dignity and damaged trust in policing.
- The Public Prosecution Service declined to prosecute either officer, citing insufficient evidence for a reasonable prospect of conviction.
- The PPS said data protection proceedings were already time-barred when it received the case files.
- Both officers were dismissed from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
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