Former Cambridgeshire police sergeant who fostered a toxic team culture found guilty of misconduct in public office

A former Cambridgeshire police sergeant who filmed himself making threats intended to be shown to a child in custody, requested intimate images of a member of the public from a colleague, and fostered a toxic culture among his team, has been found guilty of misconduct in public office (MIPO) following a trial at the Old Bailey.

Following an investigation directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), former police sergeant Paul Street, aged 41, was found guilty of two counts of MIPO. He previously pleaded guilty to two charges under the Data Protection Act. A jury found him not guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice.

Street – who resigned from the force in February 2024 - was the sergeant leading the southern Neighbourhood Impact Team based at Cambourne Police station, with the team targeting drug dealing and organised crime groups.

Examinations of Street’s phone following an investigation into a separate matter identified WhatsApp messages from April 2020 where Street encouraged colleagues to bully a child, who had been detained and strip searched on suspicion of possessing drugs. The messages encouraged using violence against the 17 year old, including “smash his little head in”. He also filmed and shared a video of himself using offensive language and making threats that were intended to be shown to the child. He was convicted of MIPO for his actions.

The other MIPO offence related to an incident where Street’s colleague – PC Josh Williams – was downloading the phone of a woman who had her phone seized and was suspected to be involved in drug dealing. The woman had warned the arresting officers that there were private, intimate photos on her phone because she wanted to ensure they were not shared.

On 1 October 2020, Williams messaged Street to tell him about the phone’s content. Street asked Williams if there were “any nudes?”. The WhatsApp exchange indicated that Williams took a photo of the woman’s camera roll showing numerous images of her in underwear and forwarded this to Street. Williams also told him about an intimate video on the phone and six months later, Street messaged Williams asking if he still had the video so he could “show the lads from footy”.

Williams previously pleaded guilty to MIPO for sharing the image from the woman’s phone and will face sentencing alongside Street, who will be remanded in custody until sentencing.

IOPC Director of Engagement Emily Barry said: “As the sergeant in charge, Paul Street created a toxic team culture which junior officers would find very difficult to challenge. His messages and behaviour set the tone and fostered an unacceptable culture where more junior officers joined in exchanging inappropriate messages. When one of those officers did the right thing and reported Street’s behaviour, he referred to the officer in the team group chat as a ‘snake’.

“He abused of his position as a police officer, including filming himself making threats intended to be shown to a child in custody.

“The woman whose intimate images were shared between Williams and Street – with absolutely no policing purpose - has spoken of her distress in knowing that her private images were shared by officers and how this has completely undermined her trust in police. Appallingly, Street further grossly abused his position by requesting the video so he could pass it around his friends.

“Tellingly, he tried to justify or excuse his behaviour and denied any criminal offending. He has now been held to account and will be sentenced for his crimes.”

Our directed investigation began in October 2022 and was carried out by Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire's professional standards department under our direction and control. In March 2024, we decided to refer a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised the charges against Street and Williams.

PC Williams was dismissed without notice at an accelerated hearing after pleading guilty to MIPO last year and has been placed on the College of Policing barred list.  Former PS Street will face an accelerated hearing following the conclusion of criminal proceedings.

Evidence obtained through Street’s phone download resulted in the investigation widening to include other officers involved in the exchange of inappropriate messages in the WhatsApp group.

A further two officers had gross misconduct findings following disciplinary hearings.

PC Steve Girdlestone was dismissed without notice for using discriminatory and derogatory language about members of the public in WhatsApp messages.

PC Amadae Dowd received a final written warning for gross misconduct for sharing images of an injured child and an adult on WhatsApp messages without a policing purpose.

A further four officers were found to have a case to answer for misconduct and five officers were subject to the reflective practice review process – bringing the total number of officers subject to disciplinary or performance procedures to 13 officers.

Ms Barry added: “What began as an investigation into the conduct of Street widened significantly to involve more than a dozen officers after we found unacceptable and inappropriate WhatsApp messages exchanged between officers on Street’s phone and a failure of duty by officers to report or challenge this behaviour. The officer who reported Street should be acknowledged for standing up for what is right.

“It’s vital that police officers’ conduct which falls well below the standards that the public would rightfully expect – such as derogatory messages and sharing images of members of the public without any legitimate reason - are dealt with and addressed so the officers are held accountable.”