Ex-Greater Manchester Police officer Dean Dempster sacked and barred from service after sexually assaulting child while on duty

A police officer who sexually assaulted a young girl while responding to an incident has been sacked and barred from service.

PC Dean Dempster, a Greater Manchester Police officer based in Oldham, was dismissed without notice on May 2, 2024 and added to the College of Police Barred List by Chief Constable Stephen Watson. It comes after the 35-year-old was convicted of the assault of a young girl while on duty.

Dempster responded to a call on 29 December 2023, where he assaulted the child. The force received a complaint in regards to Dempster’s conduct the following day and he was promptly arrested when he returned to duty the day after.

Under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the unit conducted an investigation which eventually led to the officer being charged in 31 December, 2023, from which date he had remained suspended before being sacked. He was convicted at a trial at Liverpool Crown Court in February.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson said: “This sexual assault occurred whilst the officer was on duty and where the victim was totally trusting and reliant on him performing his duties professionally, compassionately and with her welfare uppermost in his thoughts.  It is this most egregious breach of trust of an innocent young child that is most upsetting aspect of this case and something that clearly amounts to an aggravating factor. 

“I consider this case to be among the most distressing ever presented to me such is the despicable betrayal of all that is inherent in being a decent police officer. I have no hesitation whatsoever in dismissing PC Dempster from the service with immediate effect.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of Greater Manchester Police’s professional standards directorate, said: “Dean Dempster is not a police officer, he’s a child sex offender who has no right to be in police uniform or in a position to serve the public. We have no time for people like Dempster who should not be in GMP and does not represent us. This is why we’re increasingly using accelerated misconduct hearings to root out and boot out officers who are unfit to serve in our uniform, and this work will continue while ever they remain.”