Officer dismissed for grooming a child

An officer who groomed an 11-year-old girl has been dismissed without notice.

A misconduct hearing was held for PC Elvis Moreira, attached to West Area Command Unit, following allegations he engaged in inappropriate and sexual communications with a child between 2019 and 2020.

The matter was reported to Thames Valley Police in September 2023 and an immediate investigation launched, with PC Moreira suspended from duty.

The case did not meet the evidential threshold for criminal charges, but was subject to a misconduct investigation by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards.

Chief Superintendent Jill Horsfall, who leads policing for west London, said: “PC Moreira’s behaviour was repugnant and fell very far below the high standards we expect of our officers.

“The hearing carefully considered the evidence and dismissed PC Moreira without notice.”

The hearing found the allegations proven at the level of gross misconduct and that PC Moreira had breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct. He was immediately dismissed.

PC Moreira will now be placed on the barred list held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies, the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.