A FORMER Essex Police officer who had an inappropriate relationship with a witness has been found to have committed gross misconduct.

Ex PC Georgie Bean was convicted of misconduct in a public office in February this year and sentenced to 50 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £1,200 costs the following month.

It relates to an inappropriate and intimate relationship Bean had with the witness in a hate crime case in November 2020.

Bean, 32, a police officer of Fitzstephen Road in Dagenham who worked in Basildon, met with the woman off-duty after taking a statement from her.

He had admitted the behaviour to his supervisor and was referred to the force's Professional Standards Department.

The matter was then referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) who carried out an independent investigation.

Bean resigned from the force in March 2024 following his conviction and sentencing.

An accelerated misconduct hearing was held on Monday, 1 July where allegations of discreditable conduct were found to be proven. It was ruled that he would have been dismissed if he hadn't already resigned.

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Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, who chaired the hearing, said: "Georgie Bean's actions were unacceptable. They disgust me and every one of the hard-working people in Essex Police. The role of a police officer is to protect the public, particularly victims and witnesses. Bean had taken advantage of his position for personal benefit."

"I want to thank Bean's supervisor for doing the right thing and referring this matter to the Professional Standards Department as soon as they became aware of it. Their actions are representative of the overwhelming majority of our officers who do the right thing and display the utmost integrity."