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13
Dec 2024
North Yorkshire Police officer banned from force after filming himself performing sex act
A North Yorkshire Police officer has been banned from policing after filming himself performing a sex act while in uniform and sending it to another person.
Simon Barker, who was part of the force’s rural policing team, was barred following a misconduct hearing.
Tim Forber, chief constable at North Yorkshire Police, chaired the panel held at police headquarters in Northallerton on December 10.
Barker did not appear before the hearing.
The panel heard that Barker had filmed himself masturbating in a room at a police station and then sent it to his former partner via WhatsApp on February 22, 2022.
A decision notice published after the hearing found that the former officer’s conduct constituted gross misconduct.
Barker resigned from the force before the hearing took place.
The panel found he would have been sacked for gross misconduct had he not already resigned.
Inspector Matt Hagen, of the Police Federation, appeared before the panel on Barker’s behalf, a decision notice said.
He told the hearing that the former officer had only intended the video to be sent to his then partner as “they mutually exchanged videos and images of this type”.
Tim Forber, chief constable at North Yorkshire Police.
But, Mr Forber said in his decision that there was a risk that the video could have been shared more widely and that the former officer’s actions had brought the force into disrepute.
He added that he wanted to ensure that sexual misconduct by officers in the force will “not be tolerated”.
Mr Forber said in his decision:
No other outcome than dismissal would be adequate to uphold public confidence in policing and maintain the high standards that I expect of officers of North Yorkshire Police.
I am concerned to ensure that it is plain that sexual misconduct by officers of North Yorkshire Police will not be tolerated, and to deter future misconduct by other officers. I consider that dismissal would help to prevent future misconduct.
Barker was placed on the police barred list for life and has 10 days to appeal.
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