A police officer has been dismissed from duty after engaging in inappropriate WhatsApp messages with a vulnerable woman, as revealed during an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing held at Greater Manchester Police Headquarters on September 19, 2023.
PC Robert Whitehead exchanged these messages using his work mobile phone after creating a care plan for the woman, who had previously been reported missing. Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who presided over the hearing, disclosed that PC Whitehead was fully aware of the woman’s vulnerability but still “engaged in flirtatious messaging” in November 2022. Subsequently, the messaging transitioned to his personal phone, with PC Whitehead requesting that the woman, referred to as Miss A, delete all exchanged messages and photos.
