ALEX MACPHERSON SHAMES WORCESTERSHIRE POLICE WITH INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS

A police officer named Alex MacPherson, who was assigned to the south Worcestershire area, has been found to have seriously violated professional conduct standards through his inappropriate and unethical relationships with vulnerable women he encountered during his official duties. The disciplinary panel overseeing his case concluded that, under normal circumstances, he would have faced dismissal due to the severity of his misconduct. However, MacPherson chose to resign from his position before any formal termination could be enacted.

The misconduct involved a particularly troubling case where he engaged in a romantic relationship with a woman shortly after she reported being assaulted in August 2018. This relationship lasted for approximately three years, during which over 300 messages were exchanged between them within the first two months alone, all on his work-issued mobile phone. The exchange of such a large volume of messages on official communication devices raised serious concerns about abuse of authority and breach of trust.

Further investigations revealed that MacPherson also attempted to initiate an emotional and sexual relationship with a second woman in March 2021. This pattern of behavior was uncovered during a routine audit of his work phone, which prompted a formal inquiry into his conduct. The investigation was carried out by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), an independent body responsible for overseeing police integrity and accountability.

The IOPC's findings were damning, stating that MacPherson exploited his role as a police officer to take advantage of vulnerable victims. The organization emphasized that his actions were not only morally wrong but also a gross abuse of power. Assistant Chief Constable Richard Cooper described MacPherson's conduct as 'abhorrent' and 'totally unacceptable,' underscoring the gravity of his breaches of professional standards.

Evidence collected during the investigation confirmed that MacPherson had started a sexual relationship with a woman in a vulnerable position, and this relationship persisted over several years. Despite the disturbing nature of these findings, the IOPC later forwarded the evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether criminal charges should be brought against him. Ultimately, no criminal proceedings were initiated against MacPherson, but the case has cast a long shadow over the reputation of the Worcestershire police force and raised serious questions about safeguarding and ethical conduct within law enforcement.