Former police officer guilty of gross misconduct

A former police officer who admitted to having an intimate relationship with a vulnerable victim would have been sacked if he had not resigned, a misconduct panel concluded.

Former PC James McClements resigned from Dorset Police in April 2025 and was charged with misconduct in public office.

It was alleged that between November 2023 and November 2024 he engaged in an intimate relationship with a victim of domestic abuse, and the nature of this conduct was inappropriate and unprofessional.

On 10 April he pleaded guilty to this offence and is due to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on 16 June 2026.

A misconduct hearing held at Dorset Police Headquarters in Winfrith on Tuesday found that him to have "breached the standards of professional behaviour concerning discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy and duties and responsibilities".

At the hearing it was determined that he had committed gross misconduct.

The chair of the hearing concluded that he would have been dismissed from the force had he not already resigned, and he was also placed on the barred list.

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell, of Dorset Police, said: "This former officer pursued a sexual relationship with a vulnerable woman who was putting her trust in the police and this trust was broken.

"I want to make it abundantly clear that this is not acceptable and this former officer is not representative of the force.

"We have a duty to always adhere to the highest standards of behaviour and integrity and protect vulnerable members of our communities. Unfortunately, McClements fell well below these standards."