Breach of trust caught on camera
A police officer has been jailed after he was caught on a home security camera stealing a woman’s underwear during a house search. Marcin Zielinski, 27, had been carrying out an official search when he was filmed pocketing items from a chest of drawers — behaviour described in court as a serious abuse of power.
Underwear hidden in his pocket
The footage, captured by a Ring camera on 12 September 2024, shows the Hertfordshire Constabulary officer rummaging through a bedroom drawer during a Section 32 search. After briefly rifling through the woman’s belongings, Zielinski is seen removing a pair of underwear and discreetly slipping it into his back pocket before leaving the room.
The woman had been arrested on an unrelated matter and later released without charge. Her family later discovered the footage and alerted the force.
Court told of ‘improper conduct’
Zielinski, from Shefford in Bedfordshire, appeared in court on 4 August where he admitted theft and misconduct in public office. He resigned from the force while under investigation and has now been sentenced to four months in prison.
The court heard that the officer’s actions were a clear abuse of his position and a violation of public trust.
Force condemns officer’s actions
Assistant Chief Constable Genna Telfer of Hertfordshire Constabulary said Zielinski’s behaviour “let down the public, the police service as a whole, and his former colleagues.”
She added: “His criminal behaviour damages the reputation of policing and represents a fundamental betrayal of the values the police service stands for.”
Investigation followed family discovery
The victim’s family chose to release the footage to raise awareness and express their disbelief over what happened in their home. Zielinski had been on duty at the time and was wearing full uniform during the incident.
A police spokesperson confirmed that the theft took place during a lawful search and that internal procedures were followed as soon as the footage came to light. Zielinski’s resignation was accepted in November 2024.
Call for stronger vetting
The incident has prompted renewed calls for stricter vetting procedures and improved oversight of officers conducting private searches in people’s homes. Campaigners have described it as a wake-up call for forces across the UK.
Police are reminding the public that any concerns about officer conduct can be reported through official channels, including the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
