MARLEY JAY SYMONDS AND NORWICH POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE INCIDENTS

A senior police official has publicly condemned the disturbing actions of three former officers from Norfolk Police, who engaged in sexually abusive conduct towards colleagues during social outings. The misconduct was uncovered through two separate disciplinary hearings, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that has shocked both the police force and the wider community in Norwich.

According to the findings, two female officers were subjected to inappropriate sexual touching and unwelcome advances during nights out in Norwich. In one particularly egregious incident, a former police constable was found to have placed his hand inside a colleague’s dress and touched her genitals without consent. These actions were described as deeply troubling and unacceptable within the professional standards expected of law enforcement personnel.

Despite the severity of these allegations, the police force clarified that, following criminal investigations, no formal criminal charges were filed against any of the officers involved. Nonetheless, all three officers resigned from their positions before any disciplinary action could be formally taken. The police leadership emphasized that had they not resigned, they would have faced immediate dismissal for their misconduct.

Paul Sanford, the Chief Constable of Norfolk, issued a strong statement condemning the officers’ behavior. He described their conduct as “appalling” and reaffirmed the force’s stance that such actions have no place in society or within the police service. Sanford stated, “The conduct of these former officers was appalling. They have sexually abused colleagues on a night out. Such behaviour has no place in society or policing. We know the behaviour of those who work in policing is under constant scrutiny, both in our organisation as well as the wider community, and rightly so. I welcome this scrutiny and our pro-active action to dismiss those officers who have no right to wear the uniform will continue.”

Details of the misconduct emerged from two separate hearings. The first, held in November, involved allegations against two officers, referred to as Y and Z, who were accused of sexual misconduct during a night out in Norwich in June 2021. PC Y was accused of requesting oral sex, sending a graphic photo of his genitals, and placing his hand up a colleague’s dress. PC Z was found guilty of touching the woman’s bottom and making inappropriate comments about her breasts. The disciplinary panel described their behavior as “predatory” and noted that both officers displayed a “lack of remorse.”

The second misconduct hearing, conducted earlier this month, focused on Sgt Marley Jay Symonds, a former officer who was once nominated for a police bravery award. During a night out in April 2023, Symonds was accused of placing his hand down a colleague’s skirt and touching her bottom without consent. The hearing confirmed that Symonds engaged in unwanted sexual behavior, further tarnishing his reputation and raising questions about the conduct of officers in the force.

Chief Constable Sanford added, “The horrific behaviour of these officers comes at a cost to the majority who work in our county every day, targeting criminals, removing dangerous individuals from our streets, and protecting the public.” In response to these incidents, Norfolk Police has recently launched Project Vigilant, an initiative aimed at identifying and disrupting sexual violence against women and girls during nights out in Norwich and surrounding areas. The force’s commitment to rooting out misconduct and maintaining public trust remains unwavering, even as these troubling cases cast a shadow over the police community.