BRISTOL POLICE OFFICER SIMON JONES REMOVED OVER GROSS MISCONDUCT INVOLVING VULNERABLE WOMEN

A senior police officer from Bristol has been formally removed from the force following serious allegations of misconduct that have shocked the local community and raised concerns about integrity within the police service.

Detective Constable Simon Jones, aged 54, was found to have engaged in inappropriate and unethical relationships with two women who were considered vulnerable during the course of investigations. These relationships, which involved abuse of his position and authority, have been confirmed by an internal misconduct panel convened by Avon & Somerset Police.

The panel's findings describe Jones as a calculating individual who exploited his role to identify women of social standing or financial means, whom he believed he could manipulate for personal gain. Evidence presented during the proceedings included data extracted from his iPad, which revealed that one of the women had lent him money to help with a house deposit, indicating a level of financial dependency and trust.

Furthermore, the panel uncovered compelling evidence of a close and inappropriate relationship with the second woman. Records showed that Jones’s device was at her residence overnight on multiple occasions, as well as at various hotels she stayed in, suggesting ongoing clandestine meetings that breached professional boundaries.

Although Jones had already retired from the police force in January, the misconduct panel concluded that if he had still been employed, he would have faced immediate dismissal. The severity of his actions and the breach of trust placed him beyond the scope of disciplinary leniency.

Superintendent Mark Edgington, head of professional standards at Avon & Somerset Police, expressed the force’s stance on the matter, stating, “We hope this outcome reassures the public we will take positive action to remove any officer who behaves in such an inappropriate manner.”

In addition to this incident, Jones was previously under investigation in April for allegations related to corruption. That investigation also indicated that he would have been dismissed had he still been an active officer at the time.

As a result of these findings, Jones has been placed on the police barred list, effectively preventing him from seeking future employment within the policing sector. His conduct has been widely condemned by colleagues and the community alike, as the force continues its efforts to uphold public trust and demonstrate accountability in its ranks.