Police officer banned forever after filming sex act in uniform

In February 2022, a police officer in England, PC Simon Barker, filmed himself engaging in a solo sex act while in uniform inside a police station. This incident occurred while he was a member of the North Yorkshire Police's rural crime team. The video, which was sent via WhatsApp to an unnamed woman, led to significant professional consequences for Barker. A misconduct hearing took place at force headquarters in Northallerton, where it was determined that his actions constituted gross misconduct. Barker resigned just a day before the hearing, and despite his absence from proceedings, the chief constable, Tim Forber, found him guilty of breaching professional conduct standards. As a result of this ruling, Barker was placed on the police barred list, effectively banning him from serving in the police force for life. The misconduct hearing highlighted the potential risk posed by the distribution of the video, which could undermine public confidence in the police force. It was noted that his behavior not only brought discredit upon himself but also on the North Yorkshire Police. Barker's representative did express his apology and pride in his previous service with the force, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. However, the hearing's outcome reflects the strict standards and expectations for police officers, particularly in terms of conduct while in uniform and the duty to uphold the reputation of the police service.