An editor has hit out at a police chief’s refusal to intervene after his title was barred from naming a disgraced sergeant.

Dorset police and crime commissioner David Sidwick failed to back Dorset Live in its bid to name the anonymous officer, who was struck off at a misconduct hearing for forming intimate relationships with three junior staff he supervised.

Dorset Live is currently fighting an order imposed at the hearing in order to protect the identity of the Dorset Police sergeant’s family – depsite the fact the force had previously named him in its pre-hearing publicity.

Mr Sidwick, pictured, decided it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the issue when approached by the Reach plc-owned website, which was also denied a later request to speak to the commissioner on the telephone.

The right of a police misconduct hearing’s legally-qualified chair to impose reporting restrictions falls under Regulation 39 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, with any breach of such restrictions classed as contempt of court.

A challenge to the order by Dorset Live, PA and the BNPS news agency was rejected by legally qualified chair and lawyer Deni Matthews, independent panel member John Evans and Dorset Police’s acting chief constable Steve Lyne.

The hearing was then told the sergeant had flirted with, sexted and kissed his staff, and in one case had sexual relations with a trainee who had disclosed she was a victim of domestic abuse.

The officer had resigned in August 2022, but the panel said he would have been sacked, had he remained in post, after they found him guilty of gross misconduct.

Dorset Live said in an editorial: “Mr Sidwick told us he would be ‘seeking reassurance’ that lessons have been learned, but also that he didn’t think it was appropriate to comment further on the issue of the officer remaining anonymous.

“Not appropriate to comment. The PCC is an elected official. Part of his job is to hold the police to account on behalf of the taxpayer, who pays for the police.

“Mr Mathews was correct on one point. No one has been punished here.

“This officer resigned before he could face any consequences for his actions, though would have been fired had he remained in post, and is now free to get another job.

“His CV may boast of leadership skills and experience in training junior officers in the police force, and a Google search of his name will not throw up any of his wrongdoings to potential employers.

“This ex-cop who started a relationship with a woman he was supposed to look after, and who he knew was a victim of an ongoing domestic abuse issue, might be able to re-enter the world of work, without any women he works with knowing what type of man he really is.

“A man whose actions, in the words of Mr Matthews himself, would “disturb” any right-thinking member of the public, suffered no consequences save a verbal slap on the wrist at a hearing he didn’t even bother to attend.

“And all in the name of protecting the officer’s family – a family which the officer himself did not seem to prioritise as he carried out the behaviour which resulted in him being struck off.”

Speaking to HTFP, Dorset Live editor Jon Lewis added: “The lack of accountability across the board in this case has been a huge disappointment for people in Dorset, as demonstrated by the correspondence and support we have received for our campaign.

“Dorset Police and those involved with the banning order have only further alienated themselves from the public by refusing to engage with the discussion around the issues raised.

“My only hope is that by taking this stand, misconduct hearing panels will think twice before granting anonymity in future cases.

“We will just have to see if that proves to be the case.”

Mr Sidwick said: “Gross misconduct hearings are chaired by independent legally-qualified chairs, as per the regulations.

“In this case, the LQC ruled that the officer could not be named and that is a matter for the LQC who will have considered the entirety of the case before them in making their recommendations.

“More broadly, I expect members of Dorset Police to hold themselves to the highest standards and there is no place for this sort of predatory behaviour in Dorset Police.

“I am pleased that the verdict of gross misconduct was upheld and this person is no longer a member of Dorset Police.

“I will be seeking reassurance from the chief constable that lessons have been learned.”

Asked specificially whether the Conservative commissioner did not believe that naming the officer was in the public interest, a press officer ssaid on his behalf: “The PCC does not have any involvement in the process and therefore, we would not wish to comment further in that regard.”

A subsequent request by Dorset Live to speak to Mr Sidwick on the telephone was denied.