Former PC Ian Steel
Misconduct hearing outcome for former PC Ian Steel
A misconduct hearing, held on 16 and 17 March, has concluded that Ian Steel, a former police constable with the City of London Police, breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to the following areas:
- Honesty and Integrity
- Authority, Respect and Courtesy
- Orders and Instructions
- Discreditable Conduct
The misconduct panel, convened in line with Police Regulations, found this amounted to gross misconduct and concluded that former police constable Ian Steel would have been dismissed had he not already resigned. He is also on the police barred list, which will prevent him from re-entering the police service or joining other policing bodies.
In 2016, whilst working for Metropolitan Police Service, former PC Ian Steel met Ms Adedeji during a plain clothes neighbourhood team patrol.
A sexual relationship followed and lasted sporadically until it ended in 2021 whilst he was a Metropolitan Police officer, before he joined the City of London Police.
During their relationship former constable Ian Steel was untruthful about his name, role and personal circumstances. The panel found that Ian Steel abused his position as a police officer to gain the trust of Ms Adedeji and met her on several occasions while on duty.
Chief Superintendent and Head of Professionalism and Trust for the City of London Police, Sanjay Andersen, said:
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with Ms Adedeji, and we recognise that the former officer, Ian Steel, deliberately abused his position and caused her significant hurt and pain. We also acknowledge how difficult and lengthy this process has been for her, and we are grateful for the courage it took to come forward and see it through.
“The findings of gross misconduct reflect behaviour that falls far below the standards the public rightly expect from police officers. The former officer abused the trust placed in him, meeting Ms Adedeji while on duty and later manipulating that professional contact into a sexual relationship through dishonesty about his name, role and personal circumstances. This was a clear abuse of power and a serious breach of the integrity and behaviour required of anyone who serves in policing.
“The misconduct occurred while he was serving with the Metropolitan Police before he joined the City of London Police in 2022.”
The panel found all of these allegations proven:
- Former Constable Ian Steel abused their position as a police officer when they lied to and manipulated Ms Adedeji someone he had met on duty, in order to enter into a personal and sexual relationship with her.
- Former Constable Ian Steel abused their position as a police officer when they lied to and manipulated Ms Adedeji, someone he had met on duty, in order to maintain a personal and sexual relationship with her.
- On 7th October 2016 Former Constable Ian Steel was on duty and met up with Ms Adedeji in Charlotte Street for personal reasons and went into an alleyway where they engaged in sexual activity.
- On 1st December 2016 Former Constable Ian Steel was on duty and met up with Ms Adedeji for personal reasons at a public house for a drink.
- On 21st April 2018 Former Constable Ian Steel was on duty and met up with Ms Adedeji at Liverpool Street Station for personal reasons, where they kissed for approximately 20 minutes.
- On 18th May 2018 Former Constable Ian Steel was on duty and met up with Ms Adedeji at the Lighthouse Bar for personal reasons.