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
North West
Cheshire, Cumbria, Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside
PC Stuart Ayling Gave Stalking Suspect Three-minute Phone Warning After Woman Reported Assaults
A police officer who gave a suspected stalker a three-minute telephone warning after his former partner reported repeated harassment and previous assaults has received a four-year final written warning. PC Stuart Ayling attended Miss X on January 3, 2024, after she reported that her former boyfriend had repeatedly harassed her at work. She also disclosed… Continue reading PC Stuart Ayling Gave Stalking Suspect Three-minute Phone Warning After Woman Reported Assaults
Police Officer Supplied Anabolic Steroids And Shared BODYCAM Footage Before Quitting Force
A former police officer supplied anabolic steroids to a man and shared confidential body-worn video footage on three separate occasions, a misconduct hearing has found. Former Cheshire Police Constable Shannon Burt, appeared before an accelerated misconduct hearing on August 18, 2026. The hearing was told that Burt had shared body-worn video footage on various dates… Continue reading Police Officer Supplied Anabolic Steroids And Shared BODYCAM Footage Before Quitting Force
Firearms Cop PC William Matthews Barred From Policing Over Drug And Nitrous Oxide Messages
A CHESHIRE Police firearms officer has been barred from policing after sending and receiving messages indicating familiarity with controlled drugs and the recreational use of Nitrous Oxide. Former PC William Matthews was the subject of an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing on August 10, 2026. The hearing considered messages and online activity on Matthews’ personal mobile phone… Continue reading Firearms Cop PC William Matthews Barred From Policing Over Drug And Nitrous Oxide Messages
LOOKING BACK: Cleared In Court, Cleared Again — So Why Were Two GMP Officers Put Through A Seven-year Ordeal?
Paul Jackson and Paul Lockett were acquitted of every criminal charge before every remaining misconduct allegation was found not proven. Misconduct999 looks back at a case that raises an uncomfortable question about the human cost of prolonged police investigations. Two Greater Manchester Police officers spent seven years facing criminal and disciplinary proceedings over allegations that… Continue reading LOOKING BACK: Cleared In Court, Cleared Again — So Why Were Two GMP Officers Put Through A Seven-year Ordeal?
‘Send Me The Draft’: Cop Sacked After Partner Did His Dissertation
A police officer who passed off his partner’s university work as his own and applied for a bank loan in her name without consent has been dismissed without notice. PC Benvenuto Picone submitted assignments and a dissertation completed or significantly contributed to by “Person A” while studying at Liverpool John Moores University. The Merseyside Police… Continue reading ‘Send Me The Draft’: Cop Sacked After Partner Did His Dissertation
Two Lancashire Police Officers Sacked After Assaulting Colleagues While Off Duty On The SAME DAY
PCs Neil Salway and George Shaw were dismissed without notice following separate accelerated misconduct hearings — but published outcomes do not state that the cases were connected Two police officers from the same force have been sacked after assaulting colleagues while off duty on the same day. PC Neil Salway and PC George Shaw were… Continue reading Two Lancashire Police Officers Sacked After Assaulting Colleagues While Off Duty On The SAME DAY
Second GMP Officer Barred Over Drugs In Seven Months After Cocaine And Cannabis Test
PC Jack Sanderson’s dismissal follows the January case of former Detective Chief Inspector James Faulkner, who tested positive for anabolic steroids A second Greater Manchester Police officer has been thrown out of policing over illicit drug use within the space of seven months. PC Jack Sanderson was dismissed without notice on 10 August 2026 after… Continue reading Second GMP Officer Barred Over Drugs In Seven Months After Cocaine And Cannabis Test
Six Women Among Nine GMP Officers Facing Misconduct Hearing Over Alleged Racist Treatment Of Black Colleague
Six women are among nine serving and former Greater Manchester Police officers facing a major misconduct hearing over allegations of racist language and behaviour towards a Black colleague. The number of female officers involved makes the case particularly unusual. Since Misconduct999 began reporting on police misconduct cases in 2021, it has never previously encountered a… Continue reading Six Women Among Nine GMP Officers Facing Misconduct Hearing Over Alleged Racist Treatment Of Black Colleague
Detective Inspector Victoria Shelton Accused Of Trying To Influence Investigation Involving Suspect’s Family
A Cheshire detective inspector will face an accelerated misconduct hearing over allegations that she attempted to influence a police investigation after failing to disclose a personal conflict of interest. Detective Inspector Victoria Shelton became involved in an investigation in February 2026 despite a personal connection to the suspect’s family. It is alleged she accessed police… Continue reading Detective Inspector Victoria Shelton Accused Of Trying To Influence Investigation Involving Suspect’s Family
PC Shannon Burt Faces Misconduct Hearing Over Alleged Steroid Supply
It is alleged that PC Shannon Burt was involved in the supply of Class C anabolic steroids while serving as a Cheshire Police officer, compromising her position and bringing discredit upon the police service. It is further alleged that, on three separate occasions while serving with Greater Manchester Police, she shared body-worn video clips with… Continue reading PC Shannon Burt Faces Misconduct Hearing Over Alleged Steroid Supply
Why The High Court Upheld The Decision Not To Dismiss Inspector Alex Taylor
The High Court has rejected an attempt by the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police to overturn a misconduct panel’s decision not to dismiss an inspector who admitted having sex with a junior colleague on police premises while on duty. Inspector Alex Taylor was found guilty of gross misconduct after having sex with a Police… Continue reading Why The High Court Upheld The Decision Not To Dismiss Inspector Alex Taylor
From Sex Workers To Domestic Abuse: Inside Six Months Of Misconduct At Greater Manchester Police
Misconduct999 analysed every misconduct outcome published by Greater Manchester Police during the first half of 2026. The findings reveal recurring themes including misuse of police systems, sexual misconduct, domestic abuse and repeated cases described as “Key Jamming”, while more than two-thirds of officer cases resulted in dismissal or a finding that dismissal would have been… Continue reading From Sex Workers To Domestic Abuse: Inside Six Months Of Misconduct At Greater Manchester Police
Merseyside Police Officer Convicted Of Misconduct In Public Office After Propositioning Sex Workers
A Merseyside Police officer has been convicted of misconduct in public office after propositioning sex workers while on duty and making sexual comments to a vulnerable child. PC Carl Edwards, 37, was found guilty at Chester Crown Court of three counts of misconduct in public office and two data protection offences following an investigation directed… Continue reading Merseyside Police Officer Convicted Of Misconduct In Public Office After Propositioning Sex Workers
Officer Allowed To Act As GMP Sergeant While Facing Excessive Force Investigation
A Greater Manchester Police officer was allowed to carry out sergeant duties and pass part of the promotion process while under investigation over allegations that he used unnecessary and disproportionate force. David Rothwell was a probationary police constable when the incident took place on December 28, 2021, but was serving as a temporary sergeant by… Continue reading Officer Allowed To Act As GMP Sergeant While Facing Excessive Force Investigation
PC William Byers Lost His Career In ‘Misguided Loyalty’ To A Colleague Who Became A Sergeant — And Was Then Cleared
PC William Byers Lost His Career in ‘Misguided Loyalty’ to a Colleague Who Became a Sergeant — and Was Then Cleared A police constable may have sacrificed his career in a misguided attempt to protect a colleague who had since risen to the rank of sergeant, only for that officer to be cleared at the… Continue reading PC William Byers Lost His Career In ‘Misguided Loyalty’ To A Colleague Who Became A Sergeant — And Was Then Cleared
PC Brendan Colley Cleared After ‘Monkey’ Abuse And Threats To Rape Officers’ Children And Mothers
A police officer who was repeatedly called a “monkey” and subjected to threats involving the rape of officers’ children and mothers spent more than four years facing misconduct allegations before being completely cleared. PC Brendan Colley was driving a Greater Manchester Police van when detainee Borwar Ahmed launched a sustained torrent of racist and sexually… Continue reading PC Brendan Colley Cleared After ‘Monkey’ Abuse And Threats To Rape Officers’ Children And Mothers
Officer Cleared And Thanked For His Service While 18-year-old Accuser Is Accused Of A Possible Public-order Offence
Former PC Leigh Carnally was accused of inventing an offensive gesture before unlawfully arresting 18-year-old Samuel Brooks, grabbing him by the throat and forcing him against a police van. But a misconduct panel rejected every allegation, made findings that came close to accusing Brooks of criminal conduct and said the confrontation could have been avoided… Continue reading Officer Cleared And Thanked For His Service While 18-year-old Accuser Is Accused Of A Possible Public-order Offence
“Slagggggg.” “Feel Like Such A Fucking Mug.” “You’re Actually Angin Mate.” “Can’t Be Dealing With Skets.”
A Greater Manchester Police sergeant was reduced in rank after sending a junior female officer a barrage of insulting messages in which he called her a “slag”, a “sket” and “angin”. Sergeant Gareth Higginbottom contacted PC A through several social-media and messaging platforms in the early hours of August 31, 2023, after she declined his… Continue reading “Slagggggg.” “Feel Like Such A Fucking Mug.” “You’re Actually Angin Mate.” “Can’t Be Dealing With Skets.”
Exclusive: Dismissed GMP Sergeant Pursuing Multiple Legal Challenges After ICO Finds Force Breached Data Protection Law
A former Greater Manchester Police sergeant dismissed for gross misconduct is pursuing a series of legal challenges after the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found the force failed to comply with its obligations under data protection law in its handling of evidence connected to her case. Former Police Sergeant Natalie Dolan was dismissed without notice following… Continue reading Exclusive: Dismissed GMP Sergeant Pursuing Multiple Legal Challenges After ICO Finds Force Breached Data Protection Law
Inside The Secret And Seedy World Of Former GMP Officer Michael Jones
Inside the secret life of a Greater Manchester Police officer: How a misconduct panel concluded PC Michael Jones spent shifts sending explicit sexual messages, arranging public encounters and browsing hookup websites before resigning as the case closed in By the time former Greater Manchester Police officer Michael Jones walked away from his misconduct hearing, the… Continue reading Inside The Secret And Seedy World Of Former GMP Officer Michael Jones
Sergeant Accused Of Using Excessive Force On Handcuffed Man As Two Fellow GMP Officers Also Face Misconduct Proceedings
A Greater Manchester Police sergeant is due to face a gross misconduct hearing over allegations he used excessive force against a handcuffed man in the back of a police van during an arrest. The allegations against PS Rothwell stem from an incident on 28 December 2021, when a man was arrested and transported to custody.… Continue reading Sergeant Accused Of Using Excessive Force On Handcuffed Man As Two Fellow GMP Officers Also Face Misconduct Proceedings
GMP Officers Accused Of Failing To Report Sergeant’s Alleged Excessive Force
Two Greater Manchester Police officers are due to face a gross misconduct hearing over allegations they failed to challenge or report a sergeant who allegedly used excessive force on a handcuffed man in the back of a police van. PC Colley and PC Byers will answer allegations arising from an incident on 28 December 2021,… Continue reading GMP Officers Accused Of Failing To Report Sergeant’s Alleged Excessive Force
The Cop And The Child Sex Offender: Officer’s Secret Friendship Ends Police Career
A police officer who maintained a close friendship with a convicted child sex offender serving a 30-year prison sentence and failed to disclose the relationship would have been dismissed without notice had he not resigned days before a misconduct hearing. Former PC Philip Reeves resigned from Cheshire Constabulary on 8 June, just two days before… Continue reading The Cop And The Child Sex Offender: Officer’s Secret Friendship Ends Police Career
