Met officer sacked after inappropriately touching female colleague on night out
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been dismissed after he was found guilty of inappropriately touching a female colleague during a night out.
PC Matthew Steel, attached to Met Operations Taskforce, was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour following a misconduct hearing on Wednesday.
The hearing was presented with evidence that PC Steel inappropriately touched a female colleague during a night out when both officers were off duty in May 2022.
An investigation was launched by the Directorate of Professional Standards after the incident was reported. PC Steel was placed on restricted duties from July 2022 after the probe began.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the panel found the allegation proven and confirmed PC Steel’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct. He was dismissed without notice.
Superintendent Martin Kirby, lead officer for Met Operations Taskforce, said: “The Met demands the highest standards from our officers while both on and off duty. PC Steel’s behaviour has fallen far below this level and he has been dismissed from his role.
“We have been clear in our commitment to remove any officer who does not attain the standards we, and the public, rightfully demand.”
PC Steel will now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
It is the latest in a string of recent findings of gross misconduct against Met police officers.
While an armed police officer who came to work protecting Parliament after taking cocaine was also found guilty of gross misconduct.
The Met said last month that hundreds of officers are waiting to face misconduct hearings.