Former Merseyside Police officer jailed for exploiting “vulnerable” women while on duty

In September 2023, a former Merseyside Police officer was jailed for four years following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Adam Hoyle was found to have used his position to establish intimate relationships with three women, all of whom had been victims of sexual and domestic abuse, and attempting to initiate a relationship with a fourth.

The following month, Hoyle was sentenced to four years imprisonment, half of which will be served in custody. In delivering the sentence, the judge noted that Hoyle had “caused each of [his] victims untold emotional harm”. The day before his sentencing, Hoyle was formally dismissed from the force for gross misconduct.

This disturbing case of a serving police officer engaging in inappropriate and exploitative behaviour with vulnerable women is unfortunately not a one-off. With a number of recent cases involving inappropriate relationships with suspects and violent behaviour toward women, there are understandably questions being raised about a culture of misogyny in the police.

In this post, we’ll look at the actions of Adam Hoyle in more detail and consider what steps you can take if you have been the victim of inappropriate behaviour from a police officer.

Overview of the case

Hoyle’s actions first came to the attention of the IOPC in November 2019 after his then-partner expressed concerns about his behaviour. This led to three separate IOPC investigations into Hoyle’s conduct, the last of which was spurred by three women who came forward following media reports of the criminal proceedings against him.

While the criminal proceedings against Hoyle unfolded separately from the IOPC investigations, both were focused on the same accusations: namely, that Hoyle had pursued inappropriate relationships with women he came into contact with while on duty.

What was particularly concerning was that all four of the women involved were considered “vulnerable” and they had all encountered Hoyle while reporting experiences of domestic and sexual abuse to the police.

The investigation also found that Hoyle had visited at least two of the women while on duty, with one of the visits taking place while Hoyle was supposed to be taking part in the search for a “high risk” missing person.

Hoyle’s conviction and misconduct proceedings

Hoyle was charged with five counts of misconduct in public office (MIPO) as a result of his behaviour. He was also charged with three counts of unauthorised access to computer material, after it was found he used the police force’s computer system to access information related to one of the women.

While Hoyle pled guilty to three of the MIPO offences, he denied the other charges. On September 15, 2023, Hoyle was ultimately found guilty of the two remaining counts of MIPO as well as two instances of computer misuse.

In sentencing Hoyle the following month, Judge Aubrey remarked that his behaviour was “a gross breach of trust. You selected these women, if not targeted them, for your own sexual gratification.”

The day before Hoyle’s sentencing, on October 26th, Hoyle was subject to formal disciplinary proceedings by Merseyside Police. Hoyle, who resigned from the force prior to the start of his trial, was found to have committed gross misconduct by breaching the standards of professional behaviour. The panel noted that Hoyle would have been dismissed from the force without notice had he not previously resigned.

The importance of identifying police misconduct

Adam Hoyle’s shocking behaviour comes at a time when public trust in the police is at a low and concerns around police attitudes toward women and girls are on the rise. A recent report examining the “humiliating” treatment of women and girls in custody by Greater Manchester Police is just the latest indication of the scale of the issue.

It also suggests how important it is to be able to identify police misconduct and understand what level of treatment you should expect from police officers. An important reference point for this are the Standards of Professional Behaviour, which set out ten key principles for how police officers should behave. If these standards are not met, you may have experienced police misconduct.

Adam Hoyle’s actions are a case in point here. Hoyle was found to have committed gross misconduct – a more extreme form of police misconduct which justifies the officer being dismissed – by breaching the “discreditable conduct” standard. This standard states that police officers should “behave in a manner which does not discredit the police service or undermine public confidence in it, whether on or off duty”.

For more information on police misconduct and how to identify it, read our post on examples of police misconduct.

How you can respond to police misconduct

As the case of Adam Hoyle shows, police misconduct can have a serious impact on the victims. One of Hoyle’s victims told the court she has suffered anxiety since the incident and says she will “struggle to trust a police officer going forward”. And it is not only this kind of serious mental health impact that can result from police misconduct – it can also lead to physical injuries, financial losses, reputational damage and a range of other issues.

With this in mind, it’s important to know that there are steps you can take if you have encountered police misconduct. In the first instance, you have the right to make a complaint to the police force responsible for your treatment. These complaints must be recorded and, where appropriate, investigated by the force’s professional standards department. To learn more about the police complaints process, read our post on how to make a complaint against the police.

A police complaint may result in a formal apology for your treatment. The officer(s) responsible could also face disciplinary proceedings, and the force may undertake to alter its procedures to prevent a repeat of the incident. While these are all important and beneficial outcomes, it’s important to know that you cannot receive compensation by making a police complaint.

To seek compensation, you will need to pursue a civil action against the police. This involves taking the police force to court and proving that you suffered damages due to your mistreatment. While this may seem like a significant step to take, it’s important to remember that compensation can be extremely beneficial in helping you to move past the incident. And by working with an experienced solicitor, the process can be straightforward and easy to navigate, allowing you to focus on your recovery.

HNK Solicitors can support your police misconduct claim

As Adam Hoyle’s actions show, if police officers behave inappropriately and misuse their powers, it can lead to significant and ongoing damages for the victims. And that’s why it’s essential that those affected by police misconduct consider all their options for seeking redress – including pursuing a police misconduct claim.

Here at HNK Solicitors, our highly experienced team of expert solicitors have helped many clients to secure the compensation they deserve through a civil action against the police. Visit our case studies page to see just a few of our recent success stories. Our team also offers free consultations for those affected by police misconduct, with no obligation to make a claim. If we think you are owed compensation, we can offer to take up your claim on a no-win, no-fee basis – if you don’t receive any compensation, you won’t owe us a penny.

If you’d like to arrange a consultation to discuss your case, get in touch today. Call us on 0151 668 0809, or email us at enquiries@hnksolicitors.com.