Fifteen officers have committed gross misconduct, 14 have been barred from policing and another 15 officers or staff remain under investigation following one of the police watchdog’s largest-ever investigations. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is accustomed to criticism. Members of the public frequently accuse the police watchdog of taking too long, failing to secure… Continue reading Rarely Praised, Often Criticised: Charing Cross Investigation Shows The IOPC At Its Best
- Misconduct Outcome Stats:
- 57.7% have the LQC's name published
- 91.8% of allegations proven
- 76.7% of officers dismissed
Devon & Cornwall Police Misconduct News
Devon & Cornwall Police
This archive brings together misconduct hearings, disciplinary outcomes and criminal cases involving officers from Devon and Cornwall Police. It includes reporting on hearings, published outcomes, and related court proceedings, along with indexed data on cases over time.
Rarely Praised, Often Criticised: Charing Cross Investigation Shows The IOPC At Its Best
Detective Accused Of Bombarding Male Colleagues With ‘Sexualised’ Remarks About Her ‘Bush’ And ‘Tender Bits’ Is CLEARED After Misconduct Panel Finds None Of The Claims Proven
DC Jacqueline Burkin was accused of making a string of suggestive comments The veteran Devon and Cornwall officer firmly denied all five allegations A misconduct panel highlighted inconsistencies and a lack of corroborating evidence Every allegation was dismissed following the four-day public hearing A veteran detective accused of making a barrage of sexualised comments to… Continue reading Detective Accused Of Bombarding Male Colleagues With ‘Sexualised’ Remarks About Her ‘Bush’ And ‘Tender Bits’ Is CLEARED After Misconduct Panel Finds None Of The Claims Proven
Police Searched Officer’s Young Daughter’s School Bag After He Dumped Phone In Woods Is CLEARED Of Gross Misconduct
Police officer who dumped his mobile phone in WOODS minutes before arrest is CLEARED of gross misconduct after force failed to prove he was trying to derail investigation A police officer who left his mobile phone hidden in woodland shortly before he was arrested has been cleared of gross misconduct after a disciplinary panel ruled… Continue reading Police Searched Officer’s Young Daughter’s School Bag After He Dumped Phone In Woods Is CLEARED Of Gross Misconduct
Dc Tia Smallridge Who Repeatedly Snooped On Police Databases To Look Up A Man Connected To Her Partner Is Hit With A Three-year Final Written Warning
A Devon and Cornwall Police detective has avoided dismissal after a misconduct panel found she repeatedly accessed confidential police systems for personal curiosity over several years. A misconduct hearing has ruled that Detective Constable Tia Smallridge deliberately and repeatedly accessed police databases without any legitimate policing purpose, reviewing confidential information about a man she knew… Continue reading Dc Tia Smallridge Who Repeatedly Snooped On Police Databases To Look Up A Man Connected To Her Partner Is Hit With A Three-year Final Written Warning
Devon & Cornwall Police Officer Lied On Gun Licence Forms — Found Guilty In Court
A serving police officer has been convicted after lying on official applications to obtain firearm and shotgun certificates. Police Constable Sean Tooley, 32, from South Devon, has been found guilty of two counts of making a false statement in order to procure the grant or renewal of a firearm or shotgun certificate. The charges related… Continue reading Devon & Cornwall Police Officer Lied On Gun Licence Forms — Found Guilty In Court
Ex-Devon & Cornwall Police Officer Clocked At 140mph In Unmarked Police Car
Former PC Carl Parker was recorded driving more than twice the speed limit activating blue lights to appear on duty before later pleading guilty in court. A former Devon & Cornwall Police officer has been dismissed without notice after he was caught driving an unmarked police car at 140mph in a 60mph zone with no… Continue reading Ex-Devon & Cornwall Police Officer Clocked At 140mph In Unmarked Police Car
Devon & Cornwall Police Officer James Stillman Faces 2027 Crown Court Trial Over Misconduct And Sex-assault Allegations
A serving officer will face trial in 2027 accused of sexual assault and misconduct in public office. A judge has set a pre-trial review for January ahead of a three-day trial the following month at Bristol Crown Court. A serving Devon & Cornwall Police constable, James Stillman, 31, is due to stand trial in 2027… Continue reading Devon & Cornwall Police Officer James Stillman Faces 2027 Crown Court Trial Over Misconduct And Sex-assault Allegations
Firearms And Fatals Author Harry Tangye Trial Postponed Until January 2026
The upcoming trial of former Devon and Cornwall Firemarms Sgt Harry Tangle has been rescheduled due to court diary pressures The case of Harry Tangle, author of Firearms and Fatals and a former Devon and Cornwall Police sergeant, has been adjourned and will now take place at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court on 19 January 2026 at… Continue reading Firearms And Fatals Author Harry Tangye Trial Postponed Until January 2026
Police Constable Sacked After Detainee Died In Back Of Van – Colleague Would Also Have Been Dismissed If Still Serving
Misconduct panel slams pair of officers for ‘shocking’ failure to act as man suffered seizures and collapsed, ruling their behaviour was gross misconduct that “betrayed public trust in policing Two Devon and Cornwall Police officers have been ruled to have committed gross misconduct and dismissed after a detainee collapsed in the back of a police… Continue reading Police Constable Sacked After Detainee Died In Back Of Van – Colleague Would Also Have Been Dismissed If Still Serving
Shamed Officer’s WhatsApp: ‘Sorry I Raped You’ Message
A disgraced police constable resigned in shame after a misconduct panel heard how he sent WhatsApp messages to a woman saying: “I am sorry I raped you.” The former Devon and Cornwall Police officer, anonymised as PC X, was accused of forcing a woman, known only as Ms A, into sex in 2020 and later… Continue reading Shamed Officer’s WhatsApp: ‘Sorry I Raped You’ Message
D&C: PC John Catlow Manhandled Female Detective Inspector in Public Then Shrugged It Off But Keep His Job
Devon and Cornwall: Police Shame: Officer Sprayed Woman, Told Her She ‘Could Breathe Because She Was Screaming’
“There was no reason for showing the body worn video other than to show off.” A former Devon and Cornwall Police officer who sprayed a vulnerable woman with incapacitant spray and told carers to lock her in a contaminated room would have been dismissed had he still been serving, a misconduct panel has found. The… Continue reading Devon and Cornwall: Police Shame: Officer Sprayed Woman, Told Her She ‘Could Breathe Because She Was Screaming’
Devon and Cornwall: Court Hearing for Devon & Cornwall Officer Charged with Rape
Court Hearing for Devon & Cornwall Officer Charged with Rape A serving Devon & Cornwall Police officer is due to appear in court this week charged with the rape of a woman. Sergeant James Rawlinson, 36, has been postal requisitioned to face one count of rape involving a woman aged 16 or over. The alleged… Continue reading Devon and Cornwall: Court Hearing for Devon & Cornwall Officer Charged with Rape
Sacked in Shame: Ex-PC Who Admitted 18 Charges of Misconduct in Public Office Would Have Been Fired, Rules Chief Constable
A disgraced former police officer who pleaded guilty to 18 counts of misconduct in public office would have been sacked on the spot had she not already resigned, a Devon and Cornwall Police misconduct hearing has ruled. Samantha Hill, formerly a police constable with the force, was sentenced on 17 January 2025 to 20 months’… Continue reading Sacked in Shame: Ex-PC Who Admitted 18 Charges of Misconduct in Public Office Would Have Been Fired, Rules Chief Constable
Police Officer Told Woman He “Hated Women” and “Enjoyed Hurting Them”, Misconduct Panel to Hear
A police officer is facing serious allegations after reportedly engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a vulnerable woman while serving in the force. The officer is alleged to have begun a sexual relationship with a woman referred to as Ms A in May 2023, despite knowing that she was in a vulnerable state at… Continue reading Police Officer Told Woman He “Hated Women” and “Enjoyed Hurting Them”, Misconduct Panel to Hear
Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell Banned From Drink For 25 Months and Ordered To Do 120hrs Unpaid Work
Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, a senior officer with Devon & Cornwall Police, appeared today at Southampton Magistrates’ Court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to drink-driving. Detective Superintendent Kessell, who admitted to driving with an alcohol level more than three times the legal limit, has been banned from driving for 25 months and ordered to… Continue reading Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell Banned From Drink For 25 Months and Ordered To Do 120hrs Unpaid Work
Two Police officers Who Provided Dishonest Accounts To Magistrates Have Been Sacked
Two Devon and Cornwall Police officers have been dismissed after a panel found that they made statements containing false information concerning the arrest of a man for allegedly being drunk and disorderly, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Police constable (PC) Kenneth Anscombe arrested the man after he and PC Daniel Care were called… Continue reading Two Police officers Who Provided Dishonest Accounts To Magistrates Have Been Sacked
Police officer Due In Court Over Grossly Offensive image Shared Within A WhatsApp Group
A Devon and Cornwall Police officer is to appear in court to face a charge of sending an allegedly wI, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Sergeant Geraint Jones, aged 47, is charged with sending the image on 30 May last year by means of a public electronic communications network, an offence contrary… Continue reading Police officer Due In Court Over Grossly Offensive image Shared Within A WhatsApp Group
