Police rapped for finding on-duty officer having sex was in control of his weapon

A police force has been rapped for finding that an on-duty officer whose gun was in a holster around his ankles while he was having sex, had his weapon under “control” at all times.

Britain’s Independent Police Complaints Commission launched a probe into the conduct of Gwent Police constable Shaun Jenkins after he met a female friend in 2010.

Officials say he gave the woman a lift in the force’s armed response vehicle before sneaking off to a house where they had sex — with his gun “around his ankles” during the act.

While this was happening, a police colleague waited outside in a patrol vehicle for 40 minutes.

The matter came to light after the woman’s husband made a complaint about Jenkins’ conduct. He was eventually dismissed from the force, but reinstated following an appeal to the Police Appeals Panel.

IPCC Commissioner for Wales Tom Davies said: “The finding of the Police Appeals Panel that the gun was never out of Pc Jenkins’ direct and immediate control because it was in a holster, attached to his trousers, which were attached to him, albeit around his ankles, is surprising.

“I am also bemused by the panel’s conclusion his conduct did not significantly downgrade the protection to the public because there was nothing to suggest he could not have been back in the police vehicle within a minute or two.”

A report was then sent to both the husband and the IPCC, which the IPCC said “failed to mention” that Pc Jenkins and his colleague were on duty at the time.

Police sources have described the whole affair as “wholly unfortunate” — especially in light of Jenkins’ otherwise exemplary career record, which has seen him win three awards for bravery from 2004, including helping prevent the suicide of a man in 2006 and of a woman in 2011.