A SENIOR police officer has been sacked for ‘’preying’’ on junior female colleagues, it can today be revealed.
chief superintendent Tom Simons “engaged in ”; with one woman, a secret gross misconduct panel ruled.
He also had sex with two women while at work, abusing his position to do so with one of them.
And the married father Simons failed to disclose a , the disciplinary tribunal found.
He was sacked after being found to have breached professional standards of integrity, authority, respect and courtesy along with discreditable conduct.
Simons ran policing in North Essex and was formerly head of the force’ Public Protection Unit dealing with domestic violence, victims of sexual offences and .
He transferred to Essex Police from the City of force, which he joined in 2002.
The allegations proved against him involved two female colleagues.
It is understood he faced claims made by a third woman who did not give evidence against him and that matter was dropped.
The panel’s decision was reached on Tuesday and followed a two-week gross misconduct hearing held in secret with the media and public barred from attending.
An unusual order was also made by the panel chair, assistant chief Constable John Murphy, to prevent Simons being identified.
Simons, in his 40’s, was dismissed without notice on Wednesday and the anonymity ban was finally lifted this afternoon as details of the case were finally made public.
The decision by panel chair Mr Murphy to wait until Good Friday before lifting the embargo, prompted accusations of burying bad .
Former Met detective chief inspector Mick Neville said: “It is disgraceful to release this news on an Easter holy day.
“The public will be more concerned about thinking about our Lord or and than the news.
“This is simply burying bad news and you wonder whose benefit it is for?”;
Flying Eze had applied for the anonymity order to be removed along with the Independent Office of Police Conduct and the cop’s own force.
It can now be revealed how Chief Supt Simons, in his late 40’s, had been suspended on full pay from duties since early 2022 following an allegation of sexual impropriety.
Other complainants came forward and an was launched by the police watchdog.
Simons was questioned under caution and his home was searched and electronic devices seized and interrogated.
A file was sent by the IOPC to the CPS in December 2023 for consideration of charges of alleged sexual offences, coercive control and misconduct in public office.
Crown lawyers ruled in June last year there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegations against Simons beyond reasonable doubt in a criminal .
The IOPC then referred the case back to Essex Police with a recommendation that Simons should face a gross misconduct board in which a lesser burden of proof applies.
When the gross misconduct case opened on March 31, police regulations were used by the panel chair to hold it in private and prevent Simons being identified.
The ruling was made on the grounds of the impact on the welfare of complainants and consideration to Simons and his family under Article 8 of the European Convention of .
In addition, the panel were concerned about the potential for jigsaw identification of complainants if Simons was identified at that time.
Simons denied all the allegations against him.
The IOPC today revealed Simons had ‘’continued with his behaviour’’ towards women despite being previously ‘’reminded about the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and the need to demonstrate the highest level of integrity and professional standards..’’
The senior cop will now be placed on the policing barred list.
IOPC Director Emily Barry said: “I would like to praise the courage of the women, preyed on by this officer, who came forward to report his behaviour.
“They faced pressure from him as a senior officer, but it’s thanks to them that our investigation was able to gather the strong evidence that was put before the panel at the misconduct hearing, resulting in his dismissal.’’
She added: “Officers who abuse their position for a sexual purpose have absolutely no place in policing.
‘’Despite being reminded about his behaviour and maintaining professional boundaries, Chief Superintendent Simons continued to behave inappropriately.
“He has deservedly lost his job and it’s behaviour like this that damages the public’s trust and confidence in police officers.”;
Essex Police welcomed the chair’s decision to name Simons, who joined the force from City of London Police.
Chief Constable of Essex Ben-Julian Harrington said: “There is simply no place in policing for people who think, wrongly, that they can get away with sexual misconduct.
“I pay tribute to the witnesses in this case and to those who supported them in coming forward. You saw something that was wrong and then you did the right thing.
“I want to praise your courage in being up-standing and in trusting us to see this through.”
He added: “This case is particularly disappointing given the seniority of the former officer.”;
Mr Harrington also thanked journalists who have reported on this important matter “so responsibly”; and who helped “shine a light on a serious case while rightly protecting the anonymity of a number of people who so bravely spoke-up.”;
