Police officer fired for sexually harassing coworkers at party

A female police officer has been dismissed after engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviour with colleagues during a work-related social gathering.

PC Pamela Pritchard, 29, reportedly touched a male colleague inappropriately on two occasions and later sat on his knee and kissed him. The incidents occurred during a leaving party at Caernarfon Rugby Club in Gwynedd in March 2024.

During the same event, PC Pritchard also grabbed a female colleague's chest while dancing suggestively on the floor and later attempted to kiss a senior officer. Following a misconduct hearing in Colwyn Bay, Conwy, all allegations against her were upheld, and it was determined that she violated the police force's standards of behaviour.

PC Pritchard, who joined North Wales Police as a trainee in 2023, admitted that her actions while intoxicated were improper but denied that they amounted to gross misconduct. She expressed embarrassment upon viewing CCTV footage of the incident and stated that she had little recollection of the events.

The four-day hearing revealed that PC Pritchard attended the party with numerous other officers. One male colleague recounted that she unexpectedly touched him inappropriately on multiple occasions, both at the bar and outside in a smoking area. He described feeling humiliated by her actions.

Later in the evening, PC Pritchard allegedly sat on his knee, wrapped her arm around his neck, and kissed him in public. A female colleague testified that PC Pritchard approached from behind, placed her arms around her neck, and grabbed her breasts. PC Pritchard apologised during the hearing, stating that she had never behaved in such a manner before and was "mortified" by her actions. She admitted feeling distressed and worried that people might view her as a sexual predator.

The panel, chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Chris Allsop, confirmed that all allegations were substantiated and described the breaches as of medium to high seriousness, warranting dismissal. Despite arguments from her legal representative highlighting her remorse and community involvement, the decision was made to terminate her employment.

Author: Benjamin Carter