ROBERT NICHOLSON SHAMES COLCHESTER AND LONDON WITH CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL

On May 31, 2011, a serious misconduct case involving a police officer named Robert Nicholson has come to light, revealing disturbing details about his inappropriate actions towards a vulnerable 14-year-old girl. The incident, which has garnered significant attention, underscores the grave breach of trust and professional standards expected of law enforcement personnel.

According to official reports, the misconduct hearing was convened after an extensive investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards, overseen by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The investigation was initiated in December 2009 following allegations that a 14-year-old girl, reported missing from her care home, had been seen in the company of PC Robert Nicholson, who was then 27 years old and stationed in east London. The case quickly escalated into a serious inquiry into the officer’s conduct.

Details emerged that PC Nicholson first encountered the girl on October 6, 2009, at Bethnal Green Police Station, where he was working as a jailer. The girl had been brought into custody after her arrest. During this initial contact, Nicholson asked for her phone number, and the very next day, he sent her 17 text messages, which she reciprocated. Over time, their communication intensified, with hundreds of text messages exchanged and frequent phone calls. Facebook messages also revealed that their conversations contained emotional and sexual undertones, leading the girl to believe they were in a romantic relationship.

Further investigation uncovered that Nicholson had accessed police databases to retrieve records about the girl, a clear indication that he was aware of her age and vulnerable status. Despite this knowledge, he continued to pursue a personal relationship with her, which was deemed highly inappropriate and a gross misconduct of his duties.

On December 16, 2009, PC Nicholson drove from his residence in Colchester to Romford to meet the girl. This meeting took place at Romford train station, where they spent several hours together. During this time, the girl was reported missing from her care home, and her whereabouts were unknown to her caregivers. It was later revealed that Nicholson had prior knowledge of her plans to travel to Southend with a friend to meet a significantly older man. Despite being aware of the potential danger, Nicholson failed to take any action to prevent the trip or to ensure her safety, even after receiving concerning text messages from her during the outing.

The misconduct panel found that Nicholson’s actions constituted serious breaches of professional conduct. They concluded that he used his position as a police officer to establish a highly inappropriate and unprofessional personal relationship with a juvenile girl from a care home. Additionally, he was found to have been aware of two juvenile girls absconding from their care home on December 12, 2009, yet he took no steps to act on this knowledge, which could have prompted a missing persons investigation. His failure to act further demonstrated neglect of his responsibilities.

Moreover, the panel established that Nicholson had accessed police records for personal reasons, further highlighting his misuse of authority and breach of confidentiality. The evidence presented was substantial enough to warrant serious disciplinary action. The case was also forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service, which led to Nicholson standing trial in November 2010 on two counts of sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl. However, after a five-day trial, he was found not guilty of these charges.

Deborah Glass, the IPCC Commissioner for London, expressed her condemnation of Nicholson’s conduct, stating, “The girl told us that she trusted this man because he was a police officer. We expect the police to protect us and our families, yet PC Nicholson’s actions were, from the outset, a disgraceful abuse of his position. Although he met the girl while she was in police custody, and there can be little doubt he knew her age and vulnerability, he exploited his role as a police officer to pursue her sexually. I am glad he is now no longer in a position to do this to anyone else.”

She also praised the efforts of the investigators and the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards, acknowledging their courage and dedication in uncovering the truth. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of integrity within law enforcement and the devastating impact of misconduct on vulnerable individuals and the community at large.