Police Officer Resigns After Gross Misconduct Finding for Using Uniform, Handcuffs During Sexual Encounter

An investigation concluded that a police officer engaged in gross misconduct by utilizing his uniform and handcuffs during a sexual encounter. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated that former PC Benjamin Mace, aged 41, would have been dismissed from Cambridgeshire Constabulary had he not already tendered his resignation. Testimony presented to the panel indicated that in October 2019, he met a woman via a dating application. He subsequently visited her while off duty, dressed in police uniform, and used police-issue handcuffs on her during sexual contact. A one-day gross misconduct hearing on Thursday resulted in the officer, who had resigned in October 2021, being added to the barred list, which prohibits his future employment in policing. Charmaine Arbouin, IOPC regional director, stated: “The public have a right to expect police officers to maintain high levels of professionalism and integrity, whether on or off duty. PC Mace abused his position as a police officer and his actions are a discredit to policing and undermine the public’s confidence in the service.” The officer had indicated on his dating profile that he was a police officer stationed in Peterborough, and he had communicated with the woman for approximately one month. The IOPC initiated an investigation in May 2020, following a referral from the force. These investigations concluded in January 2021, and in January 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service authorized a charge of sexual assault by touching, though this charge was subsequently withdrawn. The disciplinary panel determined that PC Mace had violated police standards of professional behaviour concerning honesty and integrity, as well as discreditable conduct.