A disciplinary hearing revealed that a police officer, Pc Christian Fereday, engaged in multiple misconducts, including contacting prostitutes, violating Covid-19 regulations for beauty treatments, and sending a racist WhatsApp message about a rugby player being raped. Pc Fereday even used a police car for some of his appointments and continued to breach Covid-19 regulations during his off-duty time. He also used his work phone to communicate with sex workers through various websites.
The offensive message Pc Fereday sent about a famous South Africa rugby player shocked recipients, including a detective constable. Although Pc Fereday accepted many of the allegations against him, he denied that his actions amounted to misconduct or gross misconduct.
An investigation into Pc Fereday’s use of his police mobile phone led to the discovery that he had sent inappropriate messages to a woman he met through his job, asking for photographs. He also accessed pornographic sites on his phone while on duty multiple times between May 2020 and March 2021.
Further allegations surfaced after investigators spoke to a beautician who confirmed Pc Fereday’s appointments. Examination of data from the police vehicles revealed that some of the waxing sessions lasted between 21 and 37 minutes. Pc Fereday acknowledged going for waxing appointments while on duty but claimed that personal appointments during work hours were common among his colleagues. However, he admitted breaching Covid-19 regulations.
Additionally, Pc Fereday breached data regulations by using his personal phone to send over 200 emails to his work account about policing matters. He also informed a member of the public in October 2019 about someone they knew being arrested and in custody, violating the Data Protection Act.
The allegations collectively amounted to gross misconduct, according to Stephen Morley, presenting the case for the Appropriate Authority. The purpose of the disciplinary proceedings was to uphold public confidence and ensure that Gloucestershire Police effectively manages such matters.
Pc Fereday did not attend the hearing and was not represented. Chief Constable Rod Hansen found the allegations proven and determined that the breaches amounted to gross misconduct. If Pc Fereday had still been a serving member of the police, he would have been dismissed and placed on the barred list.
Deputy Chief Constable Shaun West highlighted that the behaviors exhibited by Pc Fereday did not meet the high professional standards, values, and ethics expected of every police officer. He emphasized the commitment to root out individuals who undermine the police service and expressed that more misconduct hearings would follow.
It is crucial to address these matters seriously to maintain the trust and legitimacy of the police service and to honor the contributions of the many dedicated professionals within the constabulary. The outcome of this case, along with the thorough investigation conducted by the professional standards department, demonstrates the commitment to addressing such issues.
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