A former Metropolitan Police officer has been dismissed for bombarding a victim of crime with inappropriate texts despite previously being warned not to.
PC Ashley Bashar, attached to North Area Command, repeatedly messaged the woman he came into contact with after she reported domestic abuse in April 2020.
Bashar was also the subject of a previous investigation in 2018 relating to a similar allegations.
But he was directed to undergo further training.
On Thursday, an accelerated misconduct hearing found gross misconduct proven in relation to police standards of professional behaviour and discreditable conduct.
Basher would have been sacked had he not resigned from the force in November 2022.
Independent Office for Police Conduct regional director Charmaine Arbouin said: “At the time when former PC Bashar first contacted the victim of domestic abuse, he was receiving further training following a similar incident where he contacted a victim on his personal phone. He had also confirmed he understood the force’s policy around this.
“Despite this, he continued to send personal messages to the woman over several months, even after she stopped responding. It’s clear he knew his behaviour was inappropriate and either was incapable of, or unwilling to change his behaviour.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines added: “The actions of PC Bashar have undoubtedly fallen below the standards that are expected of any officers within the Met and I am appalled that he neglected his responsibilities to safeguard someone he had a duty to protect.
“I welcome the outcome of today’s hearing and recognise that officers such as PC Bashar have no place in the Met. His actions have completely undermined the majority of hard working, diligent and professional officers who serve the communities of London.
“As police officers we have a duty to provide the public with the best service possible and that standard cannot be met by anyone who abuses their position in the way PC Bashar did.”
Bashar will now be placed on the College of Policing barred list meaning he cannot serve as a police officer or in a number of other related roles in the future.
