Former police constable Jay Hunt told a third party the name of the victim and the suspect in the case, as well as the alleged offences, a misconduct panel was told
A former police officer “destroyed the faith and confidence” a victim had in North Wales Police(Image: Henfaes via Getty Images)
A police officer shared confidential information from a sexual assault and domestic abuse investigation during a night out, a misconduct panel had heard.
Jay Hunt, who served as a constable with North Wales Police before leaving the force, had been involved in the arrest of a suspect in November, 2024, in connection with the serious sexual assault, assaults and domestic abuse case.
The following month, while socialising in Chester, Mr Hunt allegedly disclosed details of that case to a third party. This was said to include both the name of the victim and the suspect in the case, as well as the alleged offences.
The third party later repeated the information at the victim’s workplace, and it was alleged that Mr Hunt – who had only joined the force in 2023 – indicated what was being said was accurate.
When the victim was notified, the panel found that Mr Hunt’s conduct had ultimately “destroyed the faith and confidence she had in North Wales Police and totally discredited the service”.
Mr Hunt accepted that his actions amounted to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of ‘authority, respect and courtesy’, ‘confidentiality’ and ‘discreditable conduct’.
However, he went on to deny that his behaviour amounted to a breach of the ‘Integrity’ limb of ‘Honesty and Integrity’ While he accepted that the proven allegations amounted to misconduct, he denied they constituted gross misconduct.
As to the facts alleged, while Mr Hunt admitted some of these, he did not accept the extent of the disclosure he was alleged to have made to the third party. He also denied making any “gesture” to any other person that confirmed any knowledge of the investigation.
The panel, however, ruled that his action would have amounted to gross misconduct and that “such matters are so serious that your dismissal would have been justified had you still been a serving officer”.
It further added: “By your alleged actions not only have you destroyed any faith and confidence the victim had with North Wales Police, a victim who had to summon up the courage to talk to police in the first place, but you have also destroyed the reputation of the police service as a whole which will surely undermine public confidence in North Wales Police and its officers.”
Mr Hunt had offered an apology to the victim in his statement submitted to the hearing. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
In its conclusion, the panel stated: “Accordingly, the panel was satisfied that the need to maintain public confidence in and the reputation of the police service, uphold high professional standards and deter misconduct, and protect the public, officers and staff by preventing similar misconduct in the future is appropriately, and necessarily, served by the outcome of a finding that Mr Hunt would have been dismissed had he remained in police service. Mr Hunt should also be added to the barred list.”
Mr Hunt has the right to appeal to the Police Appeals Tribunal.
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