Essex ex-police officer would have been sacked for sexual misconduct, panel rules
The former detective made sexualised comments and behaved inappropriately towards five female colleagues
A former detective in Essex found guilty of gross misconduct for subjecting female colleagues to inappropriate sexualised behaviour and comments would have been dismissed had he not already resigned, a hearing has ruled.
Tony Arthur made sexualised comments and behaved inappropriately towards five female colleagues on several occasions in 2024, the hearing was told.
A professional standards investigation was launched after concerns about his behaviour were raised, leading to Mr Arthur's suspension.
He resigned in October 2025, prior to the hearing taking place.
The misconduct hearing, chaired by Assistant Chief Officer Robin Punt, concluded that the former officer had breached police standards in several areas:
He failed to demonstrate authority, respect and courtesy, behaving in a way that included unwanted sexualised comments and conduct towards female colleagues.
His actions violated equality and diversity standards, creating what the panel said was an intimidating, hostile, degrading or humiliating environment.
His behaviour discredited the police service and undermined public confidence in its work.
The panel ruled that Mr Arthur’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct and decided that he would have been dismissed without notice had he still been a serving police officer.
The misconduct hearing also ordered that Tony Arthur's name be placed on the College of Policing Barred List, permanently preventing him from joining any UK police force in the future.
Following the hearing, Assistant Chief Officer Robin Punt said, “There is simply no place in policing for people who think, wrongly, that they can get away with sexual misconduct.
“In Essex, the officers, police staff and volunteers I work alongside will confront and deal with anyone who tries to do this.
“We won’t allow any individual to undermine all the hard work that goes on day and night to catch criminals, keep people safe and win the trust of communities across the county.”
The panel chair went on to thank the witnesses and investigators involved in the case, commending their courage in coming forward and emphasising that misconduct of this kind would always be uncovered.