The incident has shocked many, raising questions about integrity in law enforcement.
According to a report inspired by international media coverage, the officer, identified as 47-year-old Marcin Zielinski, was part of a police team carrying out a lawful search at a woman’s residence in September 2024.
The operation was meant to be routine, but hidden cameras inside the house captured him acting improperly.
The video, later shared online, showed Zielinski going through drawers before taking a pair of pink underwear. Wearing gloves, he slipped the garment into his pocket before leaving the room.
The footage spread widely on social media, fueling outrage from the public and embarrassing the police force.
Zielinski was serving under Hertfordshire Police at the time of the search. Once the video came to light, he was investigated.
In November 2024, he resigned from his position before formal charges were brought against him.
At the Cambridge Crown Court earlier this week, he admitted to theft and to abusing the powers given to him as a police officer.
The court sentenced him to four months in prison. Prosecutors argued that the case was not about the value of the stolen item, but about the abuse of public trust.
They said his behavior represented “a shocking betrayal of responsibility.”
Senior officials at Hertfordshire Police also condemned the act. Assistant Chief Constable Genna Telfer said Zielinski had let down both the public and his colleagues.
“His criminal behavior damages the reputation of policing and undermines the values we stand for,” she explained.
Criminal behaviour': UK police officer jailed for stealing woman's underwear during home search; 'why did he want them' asks victim - Times of India
The woman whose home was searched later shared the video publicly, saying she wanted people to see how those in authority could misuse their positions.
While she had initially been arrested on a separate allegation, no charges were pursued against her.
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