FORMER POLICE OFFICER BRANDED 'PREDATORY' FOR MISCONDUCT INVOLVING DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIM AND UBER PASSENGER
A former Bedfordshire Police officer who pursued a vulnerable victim of domestic abuse and acted inappropriately towards an Uber passenger would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had he not already resigned.Former PC Michael Nimo attended the home of a domestic abuse victim in January to take a statement, but later gave her his personal phone number and asked her to keep it secret, saying he could lose his job if anyone found out.
The woman reported his behaviour to the force.
It later emerged that Nimo had also taken on a second job as an Uber driver without permission.
During one fare, he contacted a passenger afterwards, offering to buy her jewellery and take her to a fast-food restaurant.
Nimo resigned before an Accelerated Case Hearing at Bedfordshire Police headquarters on Wednesday.
The panel found he had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour covering integrity, authority, respect and courtesy, duties and responsibilities, orders and instructions, and discreditable conduct.
His behaviour was judged to amount to gross misconduct, and Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst ruled he would have been dismissed without notice had he remained in the force.
Nimo will also be placed on the College of Policing Barred List, preventing him from returning to policing or similar professions.
Chief Constable Rodenhurst described Nimo’s behaviour towards the victim as “predatory” and said his actions with the Uber passenger showed a “concerning pattern of behaviour.” He added, “I expect my officers to be diligent and act with honesty and integrity.
I believe that the public have the right to expect the same.
This officer’s conduct fell far below those standards and is completely unacceptable.
There is no room in policing for anyone who acts in this way.”
