Dan Hobbs secures finding of gross misconduct for undercover police officer who engaged in sexual relationship with activist

A former Metropolitan Police officer who had a sexual relationship with a woman he was spying on while working undercover in 1997 has been found guilty of gross misconduct. 

The activist, known only as Monica, was left with a "feeling of sexual abuse" after James Boyling's identity was revealed years later. 

The officer, who used the pseudonym Jim Sutton, had a sexual relationship with Monica for six months in 1997 while infiltrating the environmental activist group Reclaim the Streets. 

Despite the finding of gross misconduct the panel took no disciplinary action against Boyling as the Met guidance on relationships was “poor, inadequate and negligent",

Dan Hobbs acted for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

Read about this case in the press:

• BBC 
• The Independent
• ITV

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Authors

Daniel Hobbs

Call 1998

Related areas

Police Law

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Professional Discipline and Regulatory

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