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Sex-on-job policeman fired
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By Andrew Hough 2 hours, LONDON (Reuters) - A senior police officer whoadmitted to having sex while on duty has been fired,the police watchdog confirmed Tuesday. Inspector Masood Khan, 41, who worked for the BritishTransport Police, was dismissed over his tryst with a43-year-old woman in a room at Gatwick Airport railwaystation in July 2006. At a misconduct hearing Tuesday, he pleaded guilty toone charge of "discredit" under the Police Code ofConduct after originally facing three charges, theIndependent Police Complaints Commission said in astatement. The charge read: "On 23rd July 2006 whilst on duty andin uniform at Gatwick Airport and holding the rank ofPolice Inspector and duty officer for the London Southarea of the British Transport Police, you broughtdiscredit upon the police service by having sexualintercourse with the complainant." The officer, of Coulsdon, south London, had beencleared of criminal charges last August after a trialat London's Southwark Crown Court. Reports at the time said the inspector had met thewoman through an Internet dating Web site,uniformdating.com, and had believed he would beoff-duty when he arranged to meet her. He had kept his earpiece in during the 20-minuterendezvous so he would be in radio contact with hiscolleagues in case of emergencies. In a statement, Mehmuda Mian Pritchard, the IPCCcommissioner, said the actions were unacceptable. "The police service and the public have a right toexpect the highest standards of conduct fromofficers," he said. "Masood Khan's behavior is not of a standard we expectof an experienced officer. "His actions have brought the police service intodisrepute and ridicule and the panel has recognizedthis." During the trial, the officer admitted to a lapse injudgment. "It was absolutely the wrong thing to do,morally and professionally. I should never have doneit," he told the jury before it found him not guiltyof criminal misconduct in public office. (Editing by Luke Baker)
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