Police officers sacked for 'despicable' filming of vulnerable people

Two male Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers have been sacked for taking videos and photos of 18 vulnerable people they had been sent to help.

In one video, a woman with learning difficulties was filmed in bed and asked about her sex life.

The two officers, identified as Officers A and B, had been tasked to her house in 2021 after a report of concern for her safety.

The police ombudsman submitted files to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) but they directed that neither should be prosecuted. However, on Friday, the PPS said they would review this decision.

Ombudsman Jacqui Durkin said the behaviour of the officers had been "utterly despicable".

The ombudsman submitted files to the PPS in relation to the images, videos and messages found on Officer A's phones.

The files concerned potential misconduct in public office by Officer A and potential data protection offences by both Officer A and Officer B.

In a statement, the PPS said they recognise "the concerns raised about why these cases did not meet the evidential threshold required for a prosecution to be brought".

"Given the public interest in these cases, and to provide reassurance around our decision-making processes, the Director of Public Prosecutions has initiated a review of the decisions not to prosecute.

"This review is underway and will involve independent Counsel who has had no previous involvement in the prosecutorial consideration of these matters."

Some of the videos and pictures taken by the officers were shared on WhatsApp, including with a member of the public, and contained "sexualised, derogatory and demeaning commentary".

Their actions came to light during an investigation into Officer A, who was accused of having a relationship with a woman he met during the course of his duties.

His home and workplace were searched and electronic devices were seized for examination.

He was found to have taken videos and pictures of people who had requested assistance, reported crimes, were intoxicated or considered at risk of self-harm.

Some were filmed in people's homes, others in hospitals and in police vehicles.

They spanned a period between 2016 and 2021.

Five videos found on Officer A's phone featured an elderly and apparently vulnerable man, filmed in his home and on a street from a police car.

They show the poor state of his living conditions and included the officer making mocking comments about his sex life.

Two other videos were recorded of women who had been involved in a neighbour dispute, one of whom was intoxicated.

Officer B took photos of two vulnerable women, which he shared with Officer A, along with messages which referred to the women in derogatory terms.

Durkin said: "Almost all of the people affected by these actions were vulnerable, some extremely so.

"These now former officers showed no respect for people's privacy or dignity at their time of need and seriously undermined their trust and confidence in policing.

"One also shared a series of messages with a member of the public, showing scant regard for the confidentiality of police enquiries.

"They were unworthy of the role of police officer and it is only right that they have been dismissed from the PSNI."

Justice Minister Naomi Long told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show that she "felt angry and let down and disappointed" by the officers' actions.

"To humiliate and degrade individuals who are vulnerable and in need of support is just indefensible and despicable," she said.

Long welcomed the fact that both officers had been sacked.

"They're not fit to serve as PSNI officers, and they bring the force into disrepute."

The minister said that she is "really concerned" about the impact that cases such as this have on public confidence.

The minister added that the "timeline" of when the events occurred meant it would have been challenging for the PPS to prosecute the individuals, but that the "most important thing" was that they were no longer service police officers.

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton described the officers' conduct as "horrifying".

He added: "The behaviour described by the ombudsman falls far below the standards the public is entitled to expect from police officers.

"It represented a serious breach of trust, particularly affecting people who were entitled to care, compassion and professional support at times of acute vulnerability."

Singleton said all cases of misconduct are taken "extremely seriously" and this was reflected "in the dismissals of two officers".

"We are sorry that individuals who sought the assistance of police were let down in this way," he added

Policing Board vice-chair Mukesh Sharma described the officers' conduct as "shameful and disgusting".

He added: "These officers showed a callous disregard to people at their most vulnerable and breached the trust placed in them from those seeking help.

"Their actions are the antithesis of the professionalism that we rightly expect from police officers serving the community."

One other officer, known as Officer C, was given a final written warning.

A fourth officer, Officer D, faced no action - they had been present when Officer A had recorded a video but stated they had been unaware of the recording.

Elaine Campbell is the director of Mencap, a charity that works with people with learning disabilities, and said she hopes the police will "take it seriously and that they put measures in place so that these types of things can't happen again".

Speaking on Radio Ulster's Evening Extra, she said: "It's deeply shocking that this incident has happened and it's also shocking that these officers were dismissed but not prosecuted."

The justice minister said she was "deeply saddened at the behaviours outlined" in the report.

Naomi Long condemned the actions of the officers, describing it as "abhorrent, wholly unacceptable and completely indefensible".

"There is no place in our police service for officers who behave in this way."

Long also said it "does not represent the bravery, decency and compassion that the majority of police officers display in their jobs".