A British Transport Police officer is to face a misconduct hearing accused of exchanging inappropriate and discriminatory messages on a force-issued mobile phone — and failing to challenge or report messages sent by a CPS prosecutor.
PC William Pieterson, who is based in B Division, will appear before a misconduct hearing in London on Thursday.
The officer is alleged to have exchanged messages with another person between April 2025 and April 2026 which were “inappropriate, derogatory, and discriminatory in nature”.
According to the misconduct notice, the communications took place using a British Transport Police-issued mobile device.
PC Pieterson also faces an allegation that his use of the device breached BTP’s mobile device acceptance terms and conditions because it was used for inappropriate communications.
But the case also raises questions beyond the officer’s own alleged messages.
BTP alleges that PC Pieterson failed to take appropriate action to challenge or report “inappropriate and derogatory communications” sent by a Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor.
The force’s public notice does not identify the prosecutor or provide further details about the communications they are alleged to have sent.
It also does not state whether the alleged conduct of the prosecutor was subsequently referred to the Crown Prosecution Service or whether any separate action has been taken.
PC Pieterson is alleged to have breached five of the Standards of Professional Behaviour: Authority, Respect and Courtesy; Equality and Diversity; Orders and Instructions; Discreditable Conduct; and Challenging and Reporting Improper Conduct.
British Transport Police
- Stats since 1st January 2022
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81 Misconduct Hearings
85% held in public
This archive brings together misconduct hearings, disciplinary outcomes and criminal cases involving officers from British Transport Police. It includes reporting on hearings, published outcomes, and related court proceedings, along with indexed data on cases over time.
