Essex Police Chief Superintendent Dismissed for Sexual Misconduct

Former Essex Police Chief Superintendent Tom Simons was dismissed without notice following a gross misconduct hearing, after an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation found he had abused his senior position for a sexual purpose with colleagues, engaged in sexualized behavior at work, and, on one occasion, acted without consent. The misconduct related to two female colleagues and included failure to disclose a relationship and inappropriate sexual contact while on duty. The disciplinary panel concluded Simons had breached multiple police professional standards, and his name has been added to the College of Policing Barred List, preventing him from working in UK policing in the future. The hearing was held privately to protect complainants’ anonymity, but Simons was named for transparency. Despite denying all allegations, strong evidence was presented, largely thanks to the courage of the women who reported his behavior. Senior police leaders and IOPC officials emphasized that there is no place in policing for those who abuse their position for sexual purposes, and praised the victims for coming forward.