Detective who pursued vulnerable victim banned

Matthew Scarratt’s actions were “entirely inappropriate”, says Det Ch Insp Dave Jones

A detective constable who pursued an improper relationship with a vulnerable woman has been banned from policing.

Matthew Scarratt, who resigned from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) last year, was accused of keeping in touch with a victim of crime he met in the course of his duties in October 2021.

He was found guilty of gross at a misconduct hearing.

Det Ch Insp Dave Jones said that Mr Scarratt’s actions were “entirely inappropriate”.

GMP said Mr Scarratt had kept in touch with a victim of crime he met when he was working as a police officer in Oldham.

He would send her messages on social media when he was off duty, the force said.

Mr Scarratt, who did not attend the hearing, was officially dismissed without notice and placed on the College of Policing barred list to prevent him returning to the profession.

Det Ch Insp Jones, of GMP’s professional standards directorate, said Mr Scarratt “fell well below what the public expect from our police officers”.

He said Mr Scarratt knew that the relationship he was pursuing was “improper”.

“His actions were at entirely the opposite end of the spectrum from how we expect our police officers to behave and the career ramification for his behaviour is that he has forfeited the privilege of being ever able to work in policing again,” he added.

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