PC Simon Rickard was found guilty of gross misconduct for sexually harassing two trainee officers he tutored. The panel described his conduct as "predatory," noting one trainee was secretly photographed and another became so anxious she shook and later left the force. Rickard retired before the hearing but was found guilty in his absence and added to the College of Policing Barred List, which prevents him holding future UK policing roles.
Police Tutor Barred After 'Predatory' Harassment of Two Trainee Officers
Simon Rickard retired one day before he was found guilty of gross misconduct [BBC]
PC Simon Rickard, a Greater Manchester Police tutor, has been found guilty of gross misconduct for sexually harassing two trainee officers under his supervision. A misconduct panel described his behaviour as "predatory," saying it caused emotional harm and contributed to one trainee leaving the force.
Allegations and Timeline
The panel set out separate complaints from two trainees. The first, referred to as Officer A, reported a series of inappropriate incidents during September 2021. These included crude comments directed at a detained person — "At least you've had a pretty officer arrest you" — and remarks to the trainee such as "sit there and look pretty". When asked how to handle an incident, he reportedly replied, "let's get naked." On 20 September 2021, Rickard allegedly took a photograph of Officer A without her knowledge or consent, then made a crude comment while laughing.
The second complainant, Officer B, raised allegations dating from February to April 2022. She said Rickard "looked her up and down" and remarked she had a "cyclist's arse" during a conversation about cycling. On one occasion he stood behind her and put both arms around her while she worked at a computer, an action the panel described as an invasion of personal space. Officer B also reported repeated derogatory comments about women's appearance and weight, explicit remarks about his own and his son's sex lives, and that he told her he would have "tried it" with her if she had been single. She said his conduct made her so anxious she would shake and ultimately contributed to her decision to leave the force.
"Your conduct towards Officer A was unwanted, shocking and made her feel very nervous having to work with you. As a junior trainee officer who was new to the team, your conduct made her feel vulnerable and isolated."
Panel Findings
The panel concluded the former officer had abused a position of authority and trust as the tutors' supervisor. It found his actions were motivated by a desire to establish a sexual relationship with the trainees and described the behaviour as predatory. The panel recorded that both officers suffered emotional harm as a result.
One of the trainees quit the force after the incident [PA Media]
Outcome
Rickard retired one day before the misconduct hearing, but the panel found him guilty of gross misconduct in his absence and determined he would have been dismissed without notice. His name has been added to the College of Policing Barred List, barring him from future policing roles in the UK.
GMP noted Rickard had previously been found guilty of gross misconduct in July 2021 for sending photographs of himself in police uniform to a woman he met on a dating site; at that time the force said the conduct related to an off-duty consensual relationship. The new complaints were reported in September 2023 and prompted a fresh investigation.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said the force "remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional behaviour and taking robust action when those standards are not met."
The two complainants later realised, while talking at a social event, that they had each experienced inappropriate conduct from Rickard.
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