Serving Met Police sergeant, 48, blames his Mediterranean Greek background for kissing and pinching cheek of female officer in ‘slam-dunk harassment case’

• Sgt George Panayi, 48, is accused of kissing junior colleague without consent
• Female officer described his actions as ‘offensive, demeaning, horrifying’
• Lawyer for the Met said if allegations were true, it is ‘slam-dunk harassment case’
• Sgt Panayi cited Mediterranean Greek background during misconduct hearing 
• He said he had grown up with gesture that was ‘sign of support, encouragement’

A serving Metropolitan Police sergeant blamed his Mediterranean Greek background for kissing and pinching the cheek of a female officer in a ‘slam-dunk harassment case’.

Sergeant George Panayi, 48, part of the East Area Command Unit, is accused of kissing his junior colleague on the cheek without her consent while on duty on December 21, 2019.

The female officer told a misconduct hearing on Monday that his actions were ‘offensive, demeaning, horrifying’. 

And during final submissions from the prosecution and defence today, Julian Walters, representing the Met, said that if the incident unfolded as the alleged victim had described, then it was a ‘slam-dunk harassment case’.

The female officer earlier told the panel that Sgt Panayi had showed her photographs of women on his phone, telling her he was dating them ‘because you are not available’, before grabbing her face and kissing her cheek.

Mr Walters described the actions as ‘disrespectful and discourteous’, adding that it amounted to ‘misconduct’.

He told Sgt Panayi: ‘The fact that you were in a buoyant mood is no excuse to go kissing constables on the face.’

Mr Walters also said that pinching the cheek of the female officer, which Sgt Panayi is alleged to have done on February 3, 2020, was ‘demeaning’.

However, Alisa Williamson, representing Sgt Panayi, cited his Mediterranean Greek background and said it was a gesture he had grown up with and was meant to act as a ‘sign of support, encouragement’.

Serving Metropolitan Police sergeant George Panayi is alleged to have breached the force’s standards of professional behaviour in respect of authority, respect and courtesy

She also argued that the kiss, which occurred in the context of a light hearted conversation about dating, was ‘a peck on a cheek that took place in a van in front of another female colleague’ who thought nothing inappropriate had taken place.

Sgt Panayi also denies a third allegation that he opened the door of the women’s lavatory while knowing the female officer was inside, before preventing her from closing it on February 9, 2020.

‘He just laughed at me and walked off,’ she said.

The officer said she reported the incidents as they had not been one-offs.

It is alleged that Sgt Panayi breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of authority, respect and courtesy. 

It is further alleged that his conduct, if proven, amounts to gross misconduct and is so serious it would justify his sacking. 

His counsel argue that his behaviour could ‘not reasonably be seen as abusive, harassing, bullying, victimising or offensive’.

The hearing has been adjourned until 10am on Friday.

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