A police officer from the Isle of Wight has been dismissed after sharing explicit videos while on duty and making fraudulent pay claims. PC Jonathan “Joe” Finch was removed from Hampshire Constabulary following a serious misconduct hearing.
In August 2018, Finch sent 771 WhatsApp messages, mostly explicit, to a contact he met on a dating app. Additionally, he recorded a video of himself exposing himself while wearing his police uniform inside a police-owned building. Hampshire Constabulary has not disclosed the exact location where the video was filmed.
The misconduct panel found that Finch breached professional standards relating to his duties, honesty, and conduct. On 10 August, he clocked off early but fraudulently claimed overtime pay for hours he did not work. This was deemed gross misconduct, resulting in his immediate dismissal from the force.
Previously, Finch held trusted roles including Child Sexual Exploitation lead and Counter Terrorism contact on the Isle of Wight. He was a respected figure in schools and community groups. Despite his dismissal after 14 years of service, his LinkedIn profile still lists him as part of Hampshire Constabulary. Finch also founded IW Pride and served as chair of governors at Medina and Carisbrooke Colleges for six years.
Deputy Chief Constable Sara Glen said: “Maintaining the trust and confidence of our communities can only be achieved if our police officers uphold the highest standards of professional behaviour at all times, but especially when on duty. Honesty and integrity is an integral part of being a police officer and there is no place within our force for those who choose to ignore the fundamental principles of policing.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
