Gross misconduct proven against police officer who groped colleague

A former Met detective who sexually touched a colleague has been told he would have been dismissed from the police if he was still serving.

A misconduct hearing was told that on December 12, 2019 while off duty at a bar, former Detective Inspector Jonathan Kent touched a female colleague in a sexual manner.

This included touching both over and under her clothing.

Mr Kent was stationed at Central West Command Unit, which covers the boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.

The hearing which lasted four days and concluded on Thursday, 25 November, former DI Kent was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct and authority, respect and courtesy at a level of gross misconduct.

Mr Kent resigned from the Met on Monday, 31 May 2021.

Chief Superintendent Owain Richards, Central West Command Unit Borough Commander, said his conduct was “absolutely unacceptable” and there was “no place for this kind of behaviour in the Met”.

He said: “No one should ever be subject to sexual touching of any kind no matter where it happens or indeed who the perpetrator is.

“The blame lays squarely with the perpetrator and they should be held accountable for their actions.

“It is right that if DI Kent had still been serving, he would have been dismissed without notice.

“DI Kent abused his authority and seniority of rank to carry out these despicable acts against a colleague. Officers like former DI Kent have no place in the Met.”

After considering the evidence put before the hearing, the chair, Mr Darren Snow concluded that had former DI Kent still been a serving officer, he would have been dismissed without notice.

He will also be added to the barred list held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.