A POLICE officer who sent a photo of a suspect under arrest to a friend has been dismissed from the force.

PC Matthew Watt, who was based at Loddon Valley Police Station in Lower Earley, also sent a derogatory message about a detainee and snapped a witness statement to share through WhatsApp.

Following a misconduct hearing today PC Watt was found to have breached multiple force standards.

During the session, chaired by Chief Constable Francis Habgood at Thames Valley Police Headquarters in Kidlington, it was revealed that on March 5 he sent to a friend:

  •  derogatory messages about a detainee
  • a photograph of a man in custody
  •  pictures of a witness statement where the witness's name and words could be read.

The latter was also shared to numerous people in a WhatsApp group.

Based out of Loddon Valley as a response officer, PC Watt served in both Reading and Wokingham.

Detective chief inspector Matt Stone, of Thames Valley Police's professional standards department, said: "PC Watt sent confidential data to members of the public in which he referred to a detainee using a disparaging term.

"For the public to have confidence in the force it is vital that our staff and officers manage information in accordance with legislation and policies.

"Our investigation has shown that, in this instance, this has not happened and the behaviour shown by PC Watt fell well below the standard expected of a police officer.

"Thames Valley Police takes such breaches extremely seriously and investigates incidents of gross misconduct thoroughly, with the outcome being that PC Watt has been dismissed without notice from the force."