In a landmark decision, a serving police officer, PC David Seager, has been summarily dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing held on Wednesday, 28 February.
The hearing, which investigated a series of highly offensive racist and misogynistic messages sent by Seager, concluded that his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.
PC Seager, who was attached to the policing team in south-east London, had sent a barrage of appalling messages to a woman known to him between February and December 2020.
The content of these messages included violent sexual threats, creating a disturbing pattern of off-duty communication.
Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, the lead for policing in the area, condemned the officer’s actions, stating, “The messages PC Seager sent were grossly offensive and upsetting. I cannot imagine the level of distress and harm they caused to the woman. The fact they were sent to her by a police officer is sickening.”
PC Seager’s dismissal aligns with the Commissioner’s unwavering commitment to maintaining high standards within the police force.
Lawry emphasized, “PC Seager has been rightly dismissed. The Commissioner has been clear that we remove anyone from the organization who falls below the high standards we must uphold.
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The misconduct investigation, initiated by the Directorate of Professional Standards in October 2021, led to Seager’s suspension from duty the following month.
The subsequent hearing determined that he breached the standards of professional behaviour regarding authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, and discreditable conduct.
Due to his dismissal, PC Seager will now be added to the Barred List maintained by the College of Policing.
Individuals on this list are prohibited from employment by the police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct, or His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
This decisive action underscores the commitment to maintaining public trust and upholding the integrity of law enforcement agencies.
