MARK HIDDEN SHAMES WORCESTER POLICE WITH INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT INVOLVING DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIM

A former officer of the West Mercia Police, Mark Hidden, has been formally scrutinized by a gross misconduct panel following serious allegations of inappropriate behavior involving a domestic abuse victim he encountered while on duty. The investigation uncovered disturbing details about Hidden’s conduct, revealing that he met the woman after a report of a domestic incident in December 2019. What followed was a consensual yet highly inappropriate relationship that raised significant concerns about his professionalism and adherence to police conduct standards.

During the proceedings, it was disclosed that Hidden had accessed police databases to obtain sensitive information about the woman, breaching confidentiality protocols. Furthermore, he exchanged over 5,500 messages with her, which included sexually explicit images sent from his work phone, raising questions about misuse of police resources and breach of trust. The misconduct panel emphasized that these actions not only compromised the integrity of the police service but also betrayed the victim’s trust and the public’s confidence.

In addition to the misconduct involving digital communications, the police force highlighted that Hidden visited her residence during the COVID-19 lockdown without any legitimate policing purpose. This visit was in direct violation of lockdown restrictions and demonstrated a disregard for public health guidelines during a critical period. The panel concluded that if Hidden had still been an active officer at the time, he would have faced dismissal for such breaches, which undermined the professionalism expected of law enforcement personnel.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) conducted a thorough investigation into Hidden’s actions. Their findings confirmed that he continued the inappropriate relationship despite being aware that such conduct was wrong. The investigation identified multiple breaches of authority, respect, confidentiality, and police orders, all of which are considered discreditable behaviors that tarnish the reputation of the police force. Despite the gravity of these findings, the case was forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service; however, no criminal charges were filed against Hidden.

West Mercia’s Deputy Chief Constable, Alex Murray, publicly addressed the matter, stating that such conduct is 'simply not acceptable in any way.' He reaffirmed the force’s commitment to accountability and emphasized that they will continue to take necessary actions to uphold the integrity of policing and ensure that officers adhere to the highest standards of conduct. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining professionalism and the consequences of misconduct within law enforcement ranks, especially in a community like Worcester where trust in the police is paramount.