A MALE police officer has been fired after having a sexual relationship with a vulnerable victim of assault.

The woman had called Dorset Police after being sexually assaulted and met the officer concerned during the course of the investigation.

A misconduct hearing was held in private last week and the decision was made to dismiss the officer without notice.

A decision was also made to withhold his name.

The hearing was told that the officer met the woman when he attended an incident in which she had been sexually assaulted.

Although he was not the designated officer in the case, he later visited her to check on her wellbeing. Soon after the incident he started to communicate via mobile phone with the victim which developed over time into a sexual relationship.

Chief Constable Debbie Simpson said: "This was a serious breach of Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012. The fact that he instigated and maintained a hidden sexual relationship with a vulnerable victim of abuse severely undermines the trust and confidence required in providing a policing service.

"Each role within the police family impacts on maintaining trust and confidence and professional behaviour is necessary in all roles, not just frontline operational posts. I therefore believe it to be untenable that an officer who has admitted gross misconduct in the circumstances outlined in this case can hold a position within the police service. I am confident that I would be supported in that assertion by members of the public."

Police revealed that the chair of the hearing decided it should be heard in private and that none of the parties should be identified.

The hearing took place on Friday September 15.

A spokesman for Dorset Police told the Daily Echo said: "The misconduct case involves a vulnerable victim of a previous sexual assault who has life-long anonymity.

"While we have previously named officers following a dismissal for gross misconduct, a decision was made by the chair of the hearing that publishing the name of the officer involved could identify the victim in this case."