Two PSNI Officers Dismissed for Filming Vulnerable People

Two male officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have been dismissed after it was discovered they had filmed and photographed 18 vulnerable individuals while on duty. The officers, identified as Officer A and Officer B, captured images of elderly, vulnerable, and intoxicated people they had been sent to assist, in some cases sharing the material on WhatsApp with derogatory commentary.

Utterly Despicable Behavior

Police Ombudsman Jacqui Durkin condemned the officers' actions as "utterly despicable." The investigation revealed that in one video, a woman with learning difficulties was filmed in bed and asked about her sex life after officers were called to her home in 2021 over a concern for her safety. Some of the videos and photos contained sexualized, derogatory, and demeaning remarks and were shared with a member of the public.

The misconduct came to light during a separate investigation into Officer A, who was accused of having a relationship with a woman he met during his duties. Searches of his home and workplace led to the seizure of electronic devices, which were found to contain numerous recordings of people in states of vulnerability. The material spanned from 2016 to 2021 and included footage taken in people's homes, hospitals, and police vehicles.

Pattern of Abuse

Five videos on Officer A's phone featured an elderly and apparently vulnerable man, filmed in his home and on a street from a police car. The videos showed the poor state of his living conditions and included mocking comments about his sex life. Two other videos recorded women involved in a neighbor dispute, one of whom was intoxicated. Officer B took photos of two vulnerable women and shared them with Officer A, along with messages referring to the women in derogatory terms.

Ombudsman 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."

No Prosecution Due to Insufficient Evidence

The Ombudsman submitted files to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) regarding potential misconduct in public office by Officer A and potential data protection offenses by both officers. However, the PPS directed that neither should be prosecuted, citing insufficient evidence for a reasonable prospect of conviction. The PPS also noted that offenses under the Communications Act would have been relevant if they had not already been statute barred before the Ombudsman discovered the material. In a statement, the PPS said that while prosecutions were not pursued, this "does not diminish the gravity of the professional misconduct identified."

Police Leadership Apologizes

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton described the officers' conduct as "horrifying" and said it fell far below the standards the public is entitled to expect. "It represented a serious breach of trust, particularly affecting people who were entitled to care, compassion and professional support at times of acute vulnerability," he said. He added that all cases of misconduct are taken extremely seriously, as reflected in the dismissals. "We are sorry that individuals who sought the assistance of police were let down in this way."

Policing Board vice-chair Mukesh Sharma called the officers' conduct "shameful and disgusting," adding: "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."

Justice Minister Naomi Long said she was "deeply saddened" by the report and condemned the actions as "abhorrent, wholly unacceptable and completely indefensible." She emphasized that such behavior does not represent the bravery, decency, and compassion that the majority of police officers display.

One other officer, known as Officer C, received a final written warning, while a fourth officer, Officer D, faced no action after stating they were unaware of the recording at the time.