Police Officer Permanently Barred After Filming Sex Act While in Uniform at Work

A police officer who recorded himself performing a solo sex act while in uniform has been permanently prohibited from serving in the profession. PC Simon Barker, who was assigned to a rural crime task force in the Selby area for North Yorkshire Police, was found to have filmed the act within a room at a police station. He subsequently transmitted the video, in which he was clearly identifiable, to a woman via WhatsApp in February 2022. North Yorkshire Police stated that PC Barker did not attend a misconduct hearing at their headquarters on Tuesday. During the hearing, Chief Constable Tim Forber concluded that PC Barker’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct and placed him on the police barred list. Chief Constable Forber indicated that had the officer not resigned beforehand, he would have been dismissed. A notice of outcome sent to PC Barker following the hearing read: “This conduct is a breach of the standards of professional behaviour of discreditable conduct. “By this action you have brought discredit on the police service.”The notice further stated: “This conduct is also a breach of the standards of professional behaviour of authority, respect and courtesy.”It added: “Your behaviour could have impaired your own effectiveness as a police officer and damaged your own reputation and that of policing.” Mr. Forber noted that there was a “clear risk” that the video could have been distributed more widely, thereby undermining public confidence in the force. Speaking on PC Barker’s behalf, his Police Federation union representative conveyed PC Barker’s apology for his actions and stated that he had been “proud” to serve with the force. Chief Constable Forber added that PC Barker had not disputed the evidence and that a letter of resignation from him was received on 9 December.