Former West Midlands Police support officer jailed for inappropriate relationship

A former West Midlands Police community officer was jailed this week following an investigation into him having a sexual relationship with an individual he met while on duty but should not have been engaged with “in a personal capacity”.

West Midlands Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Kevin Hathaway was locked up on Wednesday (2 December) after his actions were deemed unlawful by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The IOPC investigated the conduct of the 38-year-old following allegations that he had formed an inappropriate relationship with a woman he had met during the course of his duties in 2018.

He resigned from the force during the investigation, which began in August 2019 after a referral from the force.

Chief Supt Dave Twyford, head of West Midlands Police’s Professional Standards Department, said: “As a PCSO, Kevin Hathaway had a vital role serving after the community and being a reassuring figure in the streets.

“He abused that position by forming a sexual relationship with someone he’d met during his duties. During times when he was meant to be working and protecting the public, he was developing an improper sexual relationship with someone he knew he should be not be contacting in a personal capacity.”

“There’s no place in West Midlands Police for those who abuse their position of trust and we make that really clear to all of our officers, PCSOs and staff. Where people breach that trust, we won’t hesitate in taking firm action.

“The boundaries for our staff are clear and they should not be crossed.”