Police officer who 'lied about affair sacked'

A Chief Superintendent has been dismissed after lying about an affair with another police officer.

A gross misconduct hearing found Ch Supt Matthew Thompson from Hertfordshire Police breached the professional standards of behaviour after having a sexual relationship with a female police officer outside of work in 2024.

He admitted lying to his line manager when asked direct questions about the relationship, and due to hiding details about the extramarital liaisons over an extended time, was found to have committed gross misconduct so serious that it justified dismissal.

Thompson has been added to the College of Policing's barred list, which means he will not be able to work for a UK police service in the future.

The gross misconduct hearing, which took place over six days and ended on 13 February, heard how the female officer's spouse was within Thompson's line management chain.

Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Nicholas Davison, who chaired the panel, said the officer had "set out to conceal as much of the relationship as he could" and had been "dishonest while on duty".

Dijen Basu KC said Thompson's "credibility is in tatters" and described the case as "very serious and depressing".

Thompson accepted that his actions amounted to misconduct, but not gross misconduct.

However, it was found that Thompson failed to tell his line manager or Head of Professional Standards about the full circumstances of the relationship and had not disclosed all details despite facing a formal misconduct investigation.

When given the opportunity to disclose the relationship to his line manager, he said: "As the call progressed, I was just feeling worse and worse and worse and just emotionally collapsing.

"I was just in absolute pieces, and it just continued forever."

Thompson was asked by Det Chief Supt William Hodgkinson, Head of Professional Standards across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, to provide the details in an email.

However, the panel concluded Thompson "failed to report critical information".

Thompson said he had not intended to "actively mislead" colleagues.

He said: "I've been completely remorseful and apologetic. It's so out of character. I'm ashamed of what I've done."

However, ACC Davison described Thompson's remorse as "self-centred" and said his sense of self-preservation "overrode his otherwise honest nature".

During his career, he received four commendations, including one for rescuing a man from a burning building in 2002.

Hertfordshire Police Chief Constable Andy Prophet said Thompson's behaviour fell "well short" of expectations, especially holding a Chief Superintendent rank.

He said: "Police officers and police staff are rightly held to the highest standards of behaviour and professionalism. We cannot condone lying or other breaches in conduct.

"It was heard that this officer had previously had an impeccable record of service, but anyone falling short of our high professional and ethical standards has to accept the consequences of their actions."

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