Bedfordshire Police sack 10th officer this year over sexual relationship with crime victim

An officer who used the police database to get a crime victim's phone number, and then began a sexual relationship with her, has been sacked.

PC Dermot Dunne, who worked in Bedfordshire, began the relationship in 2005.

Several years later, the relationship was rekindled and he continued seeing the woman - who he knew was now vulnerable.

At the time, PC Dunne was being investigated for another similar misconduct.

The woman also claimed the officer sexually assaulted her after plying her with sedatives - but that was not proven by the panel, Bedfordshire Police said.

She did not want to support a criminal investigation when the matter was reported last year.

PC Dunne is the 10th officer to be dismissed by Bedfordshire Police in the last year. He has also been banned from policing.

Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst described PC Dunne's behaviour as "appalling and completely unacceptable".

He said: “There is simply no place in our organisation for anyone capable of such abhorrent behaviour and we will continue to do everything possible to root out any individual who falls short of the high standards I demand of our officers and staff.

“We are working hard to build an inclusive culture which does not tolerate such behaviour or attitudes, and we actively encourage colleagues to call out concerns so we can take action or address behaviour at an early stage."

Of the 10 officer dismissed by the force in the last 12 months, five were dismissed for sexual offences.

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