Two police officers in Northern Ireland were dismissed after they filmed and photographed 18 vulnerable people they were sent to help, the police ombudsman said. The officers were sacked for what Police Ombudsman Jacqui Durkin called “utterly despicable” behaviour, including filming a woman with learning difficulties in bed and questioning her sex life. According to the ombudsman, the material included sexualised, derogatory and demeaning commentary. Some of the videos and pictures were shared on WhatsApp, including with a member of the public. The investigation began after allegations against one officer, who was accused of having a relationship with a woman he met during the course of his duties. His home and workplace were searched, and electronic devices were seized for examination. The officer was found to have taken videos and pictures of people who had requested assistance, reported crimes, were intoxicated, or were considered at risk of self-harm. Some recordings were made in people’s homes, others in hospitals and in police vehicles. Among the files examined were five videos showing an elderly and apparently vulnerable man, recorded in his home and on a street from a police car, with mocking comments about his sex life included. Two further videos were recorded of women involved in a neighbour dispute, including one who was intoxicated. A second officer took photos of two vulnerable women and shared them with the first officer, along with messages using derogatory terms. Durkin said almost all affected people were vulnerable, some extremely so, and that the actions seriously undermined public trust in policing. The Public Prosecution Service submitted files to prosecutors about potential misconduct in public office and potential data protection offences. The PPS said there was insufficient evidence for a reasonable prospect of conviction, and that proceedings for the data protection offences were statute barred due to time elapsed. One officer was given a final written warning, while another faced no action after stating they were unaware of the recording. Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton described the conduct as “horrifying”, and Justice Minister Naomi Long said she was “deeply saddened” by the behaviour.