Met officer who met up with 15-year-old and texted teenagers jailed for two years

A Met Police officer has been jailed for two years after he was caught texting two teenage girls to “come alone” to meet him and calling them “very pretty”.

PC Adnan Arib, 45, met up with a 15-year-old girl after speaking to her as a police officer, and sent text messages and “inappropriate questions” to her and a 16-year-old girl.

He denied two charges of misconduct in public office but was convicted at Southwark Crown Court last month after inappropriately contacting two teenage girls.

Arib was sentenced yesterday to two years behind bars.

Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had assessed claims of inappropriate contact between Arib and the two teenage girls, after a referral from the Met.

The investigation found that in the course of his duties, the officer met both a 15-year-old girl as a suspect in a case he was involved in, and a 16-year-old girl who was reported missing.

Between March to April and July 2019, he sent them both text messages inviting them to meet up with him and asked the girls inappropriate personal questions.

Arib, who was based on the Central East Command Unit, instructed the 15-year-old to “come alone” to see him and told the 16-year-old she was “very pretty”.

After the Met referred him to the IOPC, he was immediately suspended from duty.

IOPC interviewers spoke to him and other witnesses, and examined electronic devices, before the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided to bring charges against him.

The IOPC also uncovered evidence which was not deemed criminal, but meant Arib will also have to appear at a disciplinary panel to answer to a case against him for gross misconduct.

They found allegations against him included:

• Obtaining private contact details of members of the public for personal use; 
• Meeting members of the public without any legitimate policing purpose; 
• Attempting to deter a witness from providing material evidence;
• Failing to take appropriate action when a member of the public disclosed an offence;
• Using discriminatory language in online communications with a member of the public.

The Met Police will now take forward misconduct proceedings against the officer.

Det Ch Supt Marcus Barnett, from the Met Police, said: “Officers like PC Arib are not welcome in our Met and the sentence handed to him today reflects the seriousness of his actions.”

“The communities we serve come to us in need of help and at times of great distress.

“It is our duty to do so in the most protective and professional way and we will not stand for anyone who fails to take this responsibility seriously.

“The trust of the public is fundamental to our core purpose of keeping London safe.”

And Sal Naseem, from the IOPC, added: “PC Arib chose to abuse the trust placed in him. His actions were wholly inappropriate. He has now rightly been jailed for his behaviour.

“This outcome sends a clear message to any officer who conducts themselves in such a way: they face serious consequences, and will be held to account.”