PC sacked for abusive behaviour in relationships

A police officer has been sacked after a misconduct hearing found he had been abusive and displayed "controlling and oppressive behaviour" towards two female colleagues he was in relationships with.

PC Liam Madden showed jealousy towards his former partners and sent text messages and turned up at their homes uninvited, a Humberside Police tribunal heard.

On Tuesday, the panel - sitting in Goole - concluded he was guilty of gross misconduct and he was dismissed without notice.

Mr Madden was also found to have broken rules on renting out rooms in his home without prior approval from the force.

Barrister Olivia Checa-Dover, representing Humberside Police, said Mr Madden became jealous of his partner communicating with other men and demanded access to her phone messages.

She said the woman, referred to as PC A, was living "in fear and the officer’s actions had a serious effect on her day-to-day life".

Mr Madden went to her home on numerous occasions, including once in a marked police vehicle in June 2020.

He also made an anonymous call to Humberside Police in July 2021 alleging that PC A had been involved in an altercation at a wedding with two male officers "whom she was sleeping with".

Mr Madden was identified as the complainant when his supervising Inspector listened to a recording of the call.

Ms Checa-Dover told the hearing that his later relationship with another woman officer, known as PC B, showed "striking similarities to that experienced by PC A".

"Taking issue with PC B’s interactions with men, accusing her of liking or being with other men," she said.

"Telling her that no-one would love her, that she needed help, that she had a problem and or that she was not normal."

Giving mitigation, Mr Madden's barrister Nick Stanage told the hearing that both the relationships were "difficult".

He said Mr Madden was guilty of the "overstepping of boundaries" but his actions were "not calculated nor intending any harm, let alone cruelty."

"This case was not about physical violence, it was about emotional abuse," he added.

Mr Madden can appeal against the panel's decision.

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