Cops guilty of misconduct for 'sexual encounters' while one was on duty

24 March 2023 , 22:47

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The pair engaged in what was described as 'sexual encounters' in the back of the car (Image: Getty Images)

Two cops have been found guilty of gross misconduct after having sex in the back of a police car while one was on duty.

PC Steven Athawes was on shift when he told supervisors he couldn't respond to emergency calls as he was on a "medication run".

Instead, he drove his fully marked police car to pick up PC Daria Krolewicz, who wasn't on duty.

The pair then engaged in what was described as "sexual encounters" in the back of the car.

Both were found guilty by a misconduct panel earlier this month and will now be submitted to the College of Policing Barred list.

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Devon and Cornwall Police, where the two officers served, said they would have been dismissed without notice had they still been serving.

Two cops have been found guilty of gross misconduct (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The proven allegations stated that Athawes, on 30 May into 31 May 2021, breached the standards appropriate to the conduct of a police officer by "knowingly planned to collect an off-duty female officer, PC Daria Krolewicz."

This was "without a policing purpose" and in neglect of his duties, the panel, decided.

Once he had collected her on that date, he then engaged in "sexual encounters in a marked police vehicle with her whilst he was on duty."

The third proven allegation was that whilst on duty, he informed his supervisor and his crew mate that he was on a medication run and unavailable for response calls.

That was not the case, and he was, in fact, collecting PC Daria Krolewicz, who was off duty.

Krolewicz faced allegations that on the same dates, she also breached the standards appropriate to the conduct of a police officer.

It had been alleged that the officer had knowingly engaged in sexual encounters with PC Steven Athawes, who was on duty, in a marked police vehicle.

Following the two-day public hearing, the panel concluded that the allegations were proven and that PCs Athawes and Krolewicz had breached the expected standards of professional behaviour.

Head of Professional Standards, Superintendent Jo Arundale, said: "On this occasion, the behaviour of the officers fell below the standards expected within policing.

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"Through their actions, the officers undermined the public's trust and confidence in the police force and did not fulfil their duties and responsibilities.

"Such behaviour will not be tolerated within policing and the decision made by the panel is that, had the officers still been serving, they would have been dismissed without notice."

Alahna Kindred