A former police officer, Chris Heffernan, has been barred from policing after engaging in ‘sexual activity’ with a colleague while on duty in a police vehicle. Heffernan, also known as officer 177 Heffernan, met up with his off-duty colleague on September 18, 2019, when he was on shift for Lancashire Police. A misconduct panel found that he had sexual activity with the colleague in the police vehicle while he was supposed to be working.
The hearing, which took place before a panel consisting of legally qualified chair Paul Forster, police panel member Claire Cooper-Moore, and independent panel member Kathryn Foreman, determined that Heffernan’s actions breached the standards of professional behaviour. The breaches included discreditable conduct, honesty and integrity, and duties and responsibilities, amounting to gross misconduct. Heffernan, had he remained a serving police officer, would have faced dismissal but has since been placed on the barred list, according to information shared during the hearing.
The College of Policing barred list revealed Heffernan’s resignation while under investigation. The Lancashire Police misconduct webpage stated, “On the 18 September 2019 former Officer 117 Heffernan arranged to meet an off-duty police staff member and engaged in sexual activity with her in a police vehicle whilst on duty.” The panel’s decision highlighted that Heffernan’s conduct breached various professional standards, resulting in gross misconduct.
News regarding Heffernan’s policing status has sparked interest among readers, highlighting the importance of maintaining professional behaviour and upholding integrity within law enforcement. The details of this case serve as a reminder of the standards expected of all officers while on duty, reinforcing the principles of trust and accountability in policing.