Officer who appeared on Channel 5’s Police Interceptors ‘went dogging with female colleague after they swapped steamy messages while on duty’
Ben Sutcliffe, a former Cleveland Police officer who appeared on Channel 5’s *Police Interceptors*, faces an accelerated misconduct hearing over allegations of sexual misconduct with a female colleague. The case matters because, if the allegations are proved, he could be barred from returning to policing.
The charges include having sex with the colleague in public while intending to risk being caught, exchanging explicit messages and images while on duty, and sharing confidential operational information without a policing purpose. Sutcliffe is also accused of lying to managers about the relationship and failing to challenge the colleague’s alleged improper conduct. The hearing is due to begin in Stockton-on-Tees on 21 October; the force says the allegations could amount to gross misconduct if proved.
- Former TV police officer faces a gross misconduct hearing.
- Allegations include explicit on-duty messages and sharing confidential information.
- If proved, he could be barred from policing.
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Cleveland Police is the force responsible for policing areas including Stockton-on-Tees in north-east England. Police officers are subject to conduct rules covering their behaviour, use of confidential information and responsibilities towards colleagues.
A misconduct hearing examines whether an officer broke those rules; it is separate from a criminal trial. In this case, the allegations concern an officer’s relationship with a colleague, messages sent while on duty and the handling of policing information. If the panel finds gross misconduct, it can dismiss an officer and bar them from serving in the police again.