Social worker struck off for voyeurism conviction

Social worker Joseph David Brown has been struck off the HCPC Register for a voyeurism conviction at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

A panel of the HCPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that Joseph David Brown was arrested on 15 August 2012 at Wimbledon Station after he had been seen using his mobile telephone to take images up an unknown female’s skirt. Electrical items were seized from his house as part of the police investigation. Upon examination of the electronic data, the police found further images of indecent “up skirt” images of unknown females.

The Panel further heard that Joseph David Brown was convicted on 25 March 2013 of voyeurism contrary to section 67(3) and (5) of the Sexual Offences Act. He was sentenced to a Community Order, an activity requirement of 111 days, a supervision requirement, and was made subject to a sex offender notification requirement.

Panel Chair Naseem Malik commented: “The registrant’s actions clearly bring the profession into disrepute and undermine public confidence in the profession. The Panel has concluded that given the nature and circumstances of the Registrant’s actions, in particular the sexual element of the offence, he has clearly breached [HCPC] standards.

“In order to maintain public confidence in the profession and the regulatory process and to uphold proper standards of conduct, the Panel has concluded that the registrant’s fitness to practise is currently impaired.”

The Panel decided the most appropriate action was to strike Joseph David Brown from the Register with an Interim Suspension Order in place to cover the appeal period.

Joseph David Brown was present and represented himself at the hearing.