UK Police Officer Banned for Filming Solo Sex Act in Uniform

A police officer in England, PC Simon Barker, has been handed a lifetime ban from the profession after recording himself masturbating while in uniform.

Barker, a member of the North Yorkshire Police's rural crime team, filmed the explicit act at a police station and then shared the video with his partner. The scandal unfolded when Barker, scheduled to face a misconduct hearing, chose to resign from his position just a day before the hearing.

The disciplinary panel overseeing the case concluded that Barker's actions constituted gross misconduct, leading to his placement on the police barred list. The panel emphasized that had Barker not resigned, he would have faced immediate dismissal.

During the misconduct hearing held at the force headquarters in Northallerton, it was revealed that Barker was easily identifiable in the X-rated video, which he transmitted to an undisclosed woman via WhatsApp in February 2022.

Despite his absence at the hearing, Chief Constable Tim Forber, presiding over the case, determined that Barker's behavior breached the professional standards of conduct, specifically citing discreditable conduct and a lack of authority, respect, and courtesy.

A formal notice issued to Barker post the hearing stated, "Your actions have tarnished the reputation of the police service and could have compromised your effectiveness as an officer, as well as the overall image of policing."

Forber highlighted the significant risk posed by the video's potential wider circulation, which could have severely impacted public trust in the police force.

Representing Barker, his Police Federation union spokesperson conveyed his remorse for the incident, mentioning that Barker had expressed pride in serving with the force before the scandal unfolded.

Forber confirmed that Barker did not contest the evidence presented against him and had submitted his resignation letter on December 9.