A former South Wales Police Constable, Darren Whatley, has been found to have “acted in a predatory manner” and caused “emotional harm” to his female colleagues, a police misconduct hearing has revealed. The hearing, held in Bridgend on December 10 and 11, determined that Whatley exposed his genitals to one woman, asked another to have sex with him in his car, and used abusive language towards a third colleague while on duty. The panel concluded that Whatley’s behaviour amounted to “gross misconduct” and he would have been dismissed from the force if he had not retired. Whatley chose not to attend the hearing and has since been barred from police work.
During the hearing, it was alleged that between August and October 2021, Whatley engaged in inappropriate conduct towards three female colleagues while working at the Offender Management Unit within the national probation service. The three women, identified as Ms A, Ms B, and Ms C, were granted anonymity. One incident involved Whatley making sexually suggestive comments to Ms B while they were discussing his car. Whatley offered to take her for a drive in his car and made inappropriate remarks about having sex. This made Ms B uncomfortable, and she had to tell Whatley she was not interested. Whatley later passed her a note with his number, insisting she think about it.
In another incident, Whatley exposed himself to Ms A during a conversation about a beautician. He then asked her for her opinion after exposing himself, which made her uncomfortable. A colleague also reported a similar experience with Whatley exposing himself but chose not to take any action. Additionally, Ms C reported that Whatley had been contacting a female colleague after hours, becoming aggressive when she told him to stop. He also made threatening remarks towards Ms C when she was discussing a job opportunity with the same female colleague.
The panel, chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Jason Davies, found all allegations against Whatley to be proven. They highlighted that his actions were predatory and caused emotional harm to his colleagues. Whatley’s behaviour led to increased stress levels for Ms A, fear in Ms B, and feelings of aggression for Ms C. The panel concluded that Whatley’s actions constituted gross misconduct and he would have been dismissed if he hadn’t already retired. His behaviour towards his colleagues was described as damaging to the reputation of the police service.
Chief Superintendent Mark Lenihan, head of Professional Standards at South Wales Police, condemned Whatley’s behaviour, stating that it has no place in policing and undermines the trust and confidence of communities in the service. Lenihan emphasised the importance of creating a workplace culture free from harassment and assured that such behaviour would not be tolerated within the police force. The majority of police officers and staff uphold the highest standards of behaviour, and cases like Whatley’s serve as a reminder that inappropriate conduct will not be accepted.
In conclusion, Darren Whatley’s misconduct hearing has shed light on the importance of upholding ethical behaviour within law enforcement agencies and the consequences of breaching professional conduct standards. The panel’s findings serve as a reminder of the need for a zero-tolerance approach towards harassment and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace. The actions of individuals like Whatley not only harm their colleagues but also tarnish the reputation of the police service as a whole. As efforts continue to create a safe and respectful work environment, it is crucial for police forces to address and rectify misconduct to maintain the trust and confidence of the communities they serve.