An off-duty police officer was seen having “consensual sexual activity” in a parked car at a train station. The officer was investigated for an indecent act in a public place. However, the police panel decided not to charge the officer, which the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) disagreed with.
On Monday, the IPCA released a summary of the investigation. They reported that the officer was caught with a “civilian acquaintance” in the car around 6 PM, while it was still daylight. The act lasted about 15 minutes and was noticed by a member of the public, who then alerted the police. The officer was identified later.
Both the officer and the acquaintance admitted to their actions, thinking they were hidden from view. A criminal investigation found enough evidence to suggest they had committed an offense. The investigator also believed that prosecution was in the public interest.
The case was then sent to the police charging panel, which disagreed and chose not to charge anyone. The IPCA said they did not agree with this decision but acknowledged that only the police can decide on charges.
The police conducted a private process and found that the officer breached their code of conduct. The officer received punishment for their actions and apologized for causing distress.
The IPCA was satisfied that the police handled the situation properly. Police have been asked for further comments.
