By Gavin Mackintosh-
A British Transport Police (BTP) officer who posed as a teenage boy to “engage in sexual communication with a child” online has been dismissed without notice following an accelerated misconduct hearing.
The BTP whose public image PC Chattfield brought into disrepute, declined to inform this publication whether this was the first ever form of misconduct committed by the sergeant, nor did they agree to disclose a photograph of the offending officer who escaped imprisonment for the shameful offence.
BTP said on September 23 and 26 last year, Police Sergeant James Chatfield, 36, based in London, used Snapchat and Chat Avenue to begin conversations online with a person he believed was a 12-year-old girl, while he was posing as a 17-year-old boy.
During their conversations, PS Chatfield asked the under aged girl about her bra size, asked multiple times about her breasts and for her to send photographs of them, asked how “cute is her bum” and if he could visit her and feel it, and asked her to wear revealing clothing, the force said.
The person he was talking to was actually an undercover police officer from South Wales Police who reported the incidents to BTP’s Professional Standards Department, after inquiries on his IP address revealed he was a police officer. He was then swiftly arrested and interviewed by BTP detectives.
PS Chatfield had been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and given a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order at Inner London Crown Court on December 14.
He had earlier pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 18 to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
“Following the conclusion of the criminal investigation, proceedings were initiated to hold an accelerated misconduct hearing at the earliest opportunity,” said BTP.
During the hearing at force headquarters this week, PS Chatfield answered allegations that he breached the standards of professional behaviour.
Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi found that PS Chatfield’s actions amounted to gross misconduct, and he has been dismissed from the force with immediate effect.
She said: “He was trusted to uphold the law and to protect the public, especially the most vulnerable. His actions are disgraceful and entirely inconsistent with our values.
“My decision to dismiss James Chatfield with immediate effect reflects the seriousness with which we view predatory behaviour, specifically sexual misconduct. There is no place in BTP for people like him.”
Deputy Chief Constable Alistair Sutherland said: “As police officers it is our overriding duty to protect the public and particularly the vulnerable from harm, so it is profoundly disturbing to know that a serving officer could ever consider exploiting a child for their own sexual gain.
“I speak for everyone at British Transport Police when I say we are all truly shocked and appalled by the actions of James Chatfield. He does not represent our values and now he has been criminally convicted, we will be looking to fast track his disciplinary proceedings as soon as practicably possible.
“It is thanks to the swift and thorough investigation by our Professional Standards Department that Chatfield was arrested, charged, and brought before the courts to face justice within two months of these abhorrent offences.”