A POLICE officer has been allowed to resign before facing a misconduct hearing, over upheld complaints that she mounted a two-year campaign of harassment against a former friend.

Cleveland Police confirmed that former PC Kelly Jarvis had been allowed to resign ahead of the hearing, due to “exceptional circumstances” – although the force could not say what these were.

New legislation was brought in last year to prevent police officers from resigning or retiring while facing gross misconduct proceedings. except in certain circumstances, which includes ill health or compromising a covert investigation.

In the investigation report into Ms Jarvis’ conduct, seen by The Northern Echo, three complaints from victim Fiona Miller were upheld.

According to the report the upheld complaints included that Ms Jarvis:

  • Subjected Ms Miller to “ongoing harassment” from social media after creating several false social media accounts, and acted “in a manner which discredits the police force”;
  • Accessed police systems for reasons other than a police purpose;
  • Submitted referrals about the welfare of Ms Miller’s child to the NSPCC which contained malicious information.

The report showed she submitted four referrals to the NSPCC “for the purpose of causing her victim distress”, two anonymously and another two under fake names.

The police report said: “If PC Jarvis had witnessed incidents of neglect/abuse that were worthy of referrals she should have taken action immediately.”

Ms Jarvis admitted sending a text message from a number unknown to Ms Miller telling her that her partner had got another woman pregnant.

She also submitted an intelligence log into the force computer saying: “Miller had historical sexual relationship with an underage male.” Ms Jarvis’ log claimed Ms Miller had sex with a 14-year-old boy when she was aged 24 or 25.

Ms Miller said the allegations against her, and her partner, were completely false, and the man concerned also submitted a statement to police stating that he had never had a sexual relationship with Ms Miller.

She got to know Ms Jarvis when the former officer had a horse stabled at a yard belonging to her partner’s family. She said: “I can’t understand why she did this. If there had been an argument or something, I would almost understand the reasons behind it, but there wasn’t.”

After she worked out the text message about her partner was from Ms Jarvis, Ms Miller said she asked her to leave the yard – and then matters got more serious.

She said: “Once she brought my son into it I knew I had to do something. It was almost funny before that, but I could have had him taken away. It is frightening how much power the police have.”

Police visited the property as a result of the reports but had no concerns about the welfare of Ms Miller’s child.

PC Jarvis was interviewed in April while still serving and she denied harassment but admitted she sent four referrals to the NSPCC due to “genuine concern” and sending messages under fake Facebook and Twitter accounts. She also denied misuse of computer equipment,

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “In some cases officers are allowed to resign prior to a misconduct hearing where there are exceptional circumstances. This is one of those cases where there are exceptional circumstances and after careful consideration the officer has been allowed to resign.”