Met officer dismissed without notice for sending inappropriate messages to police cadet

An accelerated misconduct hearing has determined that a Met officer who sent inappropriate messages to a police cadet should be dismissed without notice.

PC Bethan Hills, based in Met Operations, faced allegations she breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, duties and responsibilities, and orders and instructions.

Between April 2023 and February 2024 PC Hills, while holding the position of cadet leader, sent messages to a vulnerable 17-year-old cadet from her personal phone via a messaging app.

The panel determined that the volume and personal nature of those messages were not appropriate, reasonable or necessary in relation to her role as a cadet leader.

The messages were not sexual in nature.

Chief Superintendent Andrew Ricketts, Met Operations, said: “PC Hills’ actions were wholly inappropriate. She crossed professional boundaries - using her role as a cadet leader to send personal messages to a vulnerable teenager under her care. We have made it very clear that officers who abuse their position of trust and authority have no place in our organisation as we continue our ongoing drive to improve standards and culture.”

The matter was reported on 17 February 2024 and PC Hills was suspended from duty four days later.

She will now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing to prevent her re-joining the police or being employed by other related bodies.