Police Officer Dismissed Over Abusive Conduct Towards Colleagues

A police officer was dismissed following a misconduct hearing that determined he engaged in abusive conduct and exhibited “controlling and oppressive behaviour” towards two female colleagues with whom he had romantic relationships. According to a Humberside Police tribunal, PC Liam Madden demonstrated jealousy toward his former partners, dispatching text messages and appearing at their residences without invitation. The panel, convening in Goole, determined on Tuesday that he was culpable of gross misconduct, leading to his immediate dismissal. Additionally, Mr Madden was discovered to have violated regulations concerning the rental of rooms within his residence, lacking prior authorization from the police force. Barrister Olivia Checa-Dover, acting on behalf of Humberside Police, stated that Mr Madden grew jealous when his partner communicated with other men and insisted on accessing her phone messages. She further explained that the woman, identified as PC A, was living “in fear and the officer’s actions had a serious effect on her day-to-day life”. Mr Madden visited her residence multiple times, including one instance in June 2020 while driving a marked police vehicle. In July 2021, he additionally placed an anonymous telephone call to Humberside Police, claiming that PC A had been involved in a dispute at a wedding with two male officers “whom she was sleeping with”. Mr Madden was identified as the caller after his supervising Inspector reviewed a recording of the communication. Ms Checa-Dover informed the hearing that his subsequent relationship with a different female officer, referred to as PC B, exhibited “striking similarities to that experienced by PC A”. She stated, “Taking issue with PC B’s interactions with men, accusing her of liking or being with other men.” She added, “Telling her that no-one would love her, that she needed help, that she had a problem and or that she was not normal.” Presenting a plea for mitigation, Mr Madden’s barrister, Nick Stanage, informed the hearing that both relationships had been “difficult”. He asserted that Mr Madden was culpable of the “overstepping of boundaries” but maintained that his actions were “not calculated nor intending any harm, let alone cruelty”. He further commented, “This case was not about physical violence, it was about emotional abuse.” Mr Madden retains the right to appeal the panel’s ruling. For highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire, listeners can tune into BBC Sounds; viewers can watch the most recent episode of Look North, or individuals can submit a story they believe warrants coverage here. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available for review.