British Police Officer Banned for Life After Filming Solo Sex Act in Uniform
A former police officer in England has been banned from the profession for life after filming himself masturbating while in uniform. PC Simon Barker, a member of the North Yorkshire Police’s rural crime team, resigned from his position a day before he was scheduled to appear at a misconduct hearing.
The incident took place in February 2022 when Barker filmed a solo sex act at a police station and sent the explicit video to his partner via WhatsApp. The video, in which Barker was clearly identifiable, led to a misconduct hearing at the force headquarters in Northallerton.
During the hearing, it was determined that Barker’s behavior constituted gross misconduct, and had he not resigned, he would have been dismissed from his position. Chief Constable Tim Forber, in Barker’s absence, placed him on the police barred list.
The notice of outcome sent to Barker cited his conduct as a breach of professional behavior standards related to discreditable conduct and authority, respect, and courtesy. The panel concluded that Barker’s actions brought discredit to the police service and undermined public confidence in law enforcement.
Forber emphasized the risk of the video being distributed more widely and the potential damage to Barker’s own reputation and that of policing. Despite not attending the hearing, Barker expressed his remorse through his Police Federation union representative, stating that he was proud to have served with the force.
Ultimately, Barker’s resignation was accepted, and he was permanently banned from working in law enforcement. The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of inappropriate behavior by police officers and the importance of upholding professional standards in the field.
It is a reminder of the accountability that law enforcement officers must uphold to maintain public trust and confidence in their ability to serve and protect.
