A police sergeant who stripped naked and masturbated near a play park has been sacked.

Simon Ince admitted taking pictures of himself performing the sex act after he “crawled” into a wooded area in Vale Drive, Chatham.

The case was brought before Kent Police’s most senior officer, who said children playing in a nearby park “could have easily entered the same area” and seen the 51-year-old pleasuring himself.

PS Ince, who was based at Maidstone police station, admitted in an interview to masturbating in public, and later conceded his actions amounted to misconduct.

But Chief Constable Tim Smith has now ruled his behaviour last year breached the threshold for gross misconduct and dismissed him without notice.

“It would appear PS Ince's actions on September 5 were not seen by anyone else,” he said.

“PS Ince makes it clear in his interview he had 'crawled' into a densely wooded area where he could not be seen.”

Chief Constable Smith concluded the officer had acted as he did to “seek sexual gratification, through masturbating in public”, but dismissed any suggestion it was a “private” act.

“I consider this very differently - the risk that he could have been overseen and the very damaging impact that could have had on the public is obvious in my view,” he said.

“I do not accept taking steps to hide from view is sufficient to justify such behaviour.

“It is conceivable that children playing in the park could have easily entered the same area and seen PS Ince naked and masturbating, this could have caused very direct harm to those children.

“This seems to be a risk that PS Ince has ignored.”

The incident came to light in February this year after the photos PS Ince had taken of himself were discovered.

KentOnline understands that, largely because no one saw the officer engaging in the lewd act, there was not enough evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue criminal charges.

But Kent Police proceeded with a misconduct case, which was brought before Chief Constable Smith at an accelerated hearing on Thursday.

In a report outlining his conclusion, the officer said PS Ince, of Yarrow Road, Chatham, had sent an email ahead of the hearing setting out representations on his behalf, some of which were an attempt to mitigate his behaviour.

But Chief Constable Smith said the case would have a “very real adverse impact on the reputation of the force and public trust and confidence”.

“I believe the public will take a very dim view of a police sergeant choosing to perform a sexual act in a public place whilst naked,” he said.

“Taking this all into account, I believe the harm in this case is high and the actions of PS Ince have brought discredit to the force and are so serious as to justify dismissal.

“Despite the personal mitigation presented and the service record of the officer, I believe his actions have fallen so far below the standards expected the only proportionate and reasonable outcome is dismissal without notice

“I therefore dismiss PS Ince without notice and direct he be placed on the barred list to provide further protection to the public.”

Ince is facing a court appearance charged with a public order offence for behaviour likely to cause alarm or distress, relating to a separate incident at the same place in February.