A Hertfordshire police officer will face a misconduct hearing next week after being accused of inappropriate behaviour towards female colleagues.

PC Christopher Houghton is accused of gross misconduct and breaching the standards of professional behaviour for police officers relating to authority, respect and courtesy; equality and diversity; discreditable conduct; integrity; and orders and instructions.

A publicity notice published in advance of the hearing, which begins on Monday, 16 February, alleges that PC Houghton made "inappropriate sexualised comments" to an off-duty female colleague, and then "grabbed the female by her ribs under her breast and squeezed".

The notice continues: "A few days later, PC Houghton approached the same female colleague in the car park of Hatfield police station … he made inappropriate sexualised comments and hugged her.

"A few days later, PC Houghton saw the same female colleague in an office at Hatfield police station [and] made inappropriate comments towards her and winked."

The notice further alleges that, while off duty in December 2023, PC Houghton made "inappropriate comments" to a female colleague while on a trip with colleagues. It also alleges that he "grabbed her hair and pulled her head back and put his arms around her and picked her up, carrying her for a few metres". 

The final allegation made in the notice is that PC Houghton went on holiday between August 1 and 8, 2024, despite having accessed a police system that "did not show PC Houghton as [being on] annual leave" during that period.

The hearing, scheduled to last five days at Tempsford in Bedfordshire, will determine on the balance of probabilities whether his alleged actions amount to gross misconduct.

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