A former Wiltshire Police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct following a hearing at the force’s headquarters this week.
The hearing, held between 3rd and 4th September and chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith, concluded that ex-PC Stephen Yeates had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour, specifically in relation to authority, respect and courtesy, as well as equality and diversity.
The misconduct relates to an incident in February 2024 when Yeates, while off duty, met an individual through a dating app. Over the course of a week, he engaged in inappropriate behaviour, which included sending an offensive video clip and acting in a sexually inappropriate manner, both in person and via messages. The actions were deemed unwanted and highly inappropriate by the panel.
The hearing considered one formal allegation, broken down into 24 specific points. Of these, 20 were found proven, leading to the conclusion that Yeates’ conduct amounted to gross misconduct. He resigned from Wiltshire Police in August 2024, but the panel made it clear that had he not done so, he would have been dismissed without notice. Furthermore, Yeates has been placed on the barred and advisory list, preventing him from future employment in law enforcement.
Deputy Chief Constable Craig Dibdin commented on the case, stating: “The behaviour displayed by former PC Yeates falls significantly short of the very high standards we expect of all officers and staff, both on and off duty. We are extremely grateful to the witness who came forward and assisted us with our investigation. It’s essential that officers uphold the highest standards at all times, and we encourage the public to report any concerns if they believe these standards have been breached.”
Yeates has the right to appeal the decision within 10 working days, in accordance with Police Conduct Regulations 2020.
