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
South West
Avon & Somerset, Devon & Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire
Police Officer Had A ‘Fondness’ For Female Colleague — But Sexual Assault And Harassment Allegations Were Not Proven
A police officer accused of sexually assaulting and harassing a female colleague has been cleared after a misconduct panel ruled that his behaviour was not sexually motivated. PC Jamie Lau, of Wiltshire Police, was alleged to have rubbed or pinched the officer’s upper thigh while they were on duty on May 21, 2025. He was… Continue reading Police Officer Had A ‘Fondness’ For Female Colleague — But Sexual Assault And Harassment Allegations Were Not Proven
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
LOOKING BACK: Officer Said Bullying In ‘Very Successful’ Dorset Police Unit Left Him Considering Taking
A Dorset Police officer told a misconduct hearing that treatment within Bournemouth’s Force Support Group left him thinking about taking his own life. Misconduct999 revisits Operation Tea, examining how bullying, offensive messages and failed supervision took hold inside a specialist team the panel described as “very successful”. The most revealing words in the Operation Tea… Continue reading LOOKING BACK: Officer Said Bullying In ‘Very Successful’ Dorset Police Unit Left Him Considering Taking
Wiltshire Police Officer Would Have Been Sacked After Assaulting Man While On Duty
A former Wiltshire Police officer would have been dismissed without notice after an allegation that he assaulted a man while on duty was proven at a special case hearing. Former PC Daniel Rusling was convicted of assault by beating following an incident in Chippenham on October 14, 2025. The hearing outcome states that Rusling was… Continue reading Wiltshire Police Officer Would Have Been Sacked After Assaulting Man While On Duty
Female PC Pinched Female Pcso’s Bottom — But Panel Ruled It Was Not Gross Misconduct
A female police officer pinched a female PCSO’s bottom after putting her hand beneath the colleague’s coat — but a misconduct panel ruled the behaviour did not justify dismissal. PC Chenise Austin, of Avon and Somerset Constabulary, was accused of four incidents of unwanted physical conduct towards a Police Community Support Officer identified as Ms… Continue reading Female PC Pinched Female Pcso’s Bottom — But Panel Ruled It Was Not Gross Misconduct
Police Officers Used ‘Vile’ Language About Mentally Unwell Man But Faced No Disciplinary Action
Warning: Offensive/discriminatory language. # Panel Rejects Claim Officers Mocked Mentally Unwell Man After Force Pursued Gross Misconduct Case A misconduct panel has rejected claims that two Avon and Somerset Police officers mocked a man because of his mental ill health, despite finding that both used inappropriate and offensive language after his arrest. PC Marc Daly… Continue reading Police Officers Used ‘Vile’ Language About Mentally Unwell Man But Faced No Disciplinary Action
Former PC Abbiegail Lewis Called Mentally Unwell Man A ‘Little C***t’ After Violent Arrest*
Warning: Offensive/discriminatory language. Former PC Called Arrested Man A ‘Little Cunt’ During Conversation Caught On Bodycam A former Avon and Somerset Police officer breached professional standards after calling a man a “little cunt” following a difficult arrest, a misconduct panel has found. Former PC Abbiegail Lewis made the comment during a private conversation with another… Continue reading Former PC Abbiegail Lewis Called Mentally Unwell Man A ‘Little C***t’ After Violent Arrest*
Police Officer Cleared Of Dragging Witness From Van, ‘Strangling’ Them And Punching Them In The Face
PC John O’Neill faced dismissal over claims he dragged a juvenile from his van, pinned them against it and attacked them at a lay-by, but the misconduct panel found the absence of any injury made the account “implausible” A police officer accused of dragging a young witness from his van before strangling, slapping and punching… Continue reading Police Officer Cleared Of Dragging Witness From Van, ‘Strangling’ Them And Punching Them In The Face
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
Officer Who Used Keyboard Trick To Make Herself Appear Online While Studying And Secretly Recorded Senior Colleague Would Have Been Sacked
Former Wiltshire Police officer Lauren Fairley repeatedly used objects to keep her work laptop active while studying for detective exams during working hours, a misconduct panel heard. She was also found to have secretly recorded a supervisor on her personal phone. A police officer who used a keyboard trick to make it appear she was… Continue reading Officer Who Used Keyboard Trick To Make Herself Appear Online While Studying And Secretly Recorded Senior Colleague Would Have Been Sacked
Former Police Officer Barred After Colleague Considered Leaving Department Over Offensive, Homophobic And Misogynistic Messages
A former Wiltshire Police officer would have been dismissed without notice had he still been serving after a misconduct panel found he sent a series of offensive, sexualised, misogynistic and homophobic WhatsApp messages to a junior colleague. Former PC Andrew Lee was found to have committed gross misconduct following a misconduct hearing held on 11… Continue reading Former Police Officer Barred After Colleague Considered Leaving Department Over Offensive, Homophobic And Misogynistic Messages
Under Fire: The Misconduct Cases Involving Britain’s Armed Police Officers
From drink-driving before collecting firearms to allegations of sexual misconduct, dishonesty and excessive force, a series of unrelated cases involving armed officers from forces across the UK have resulted in misconduct hearings, dismissals, criminal proceedings and gross misconduct findings. Firearms officers operate under some of the most intense pressures in British policing. In some situations,… Continue reading Under Fire: The Misconduct Cases Involving Britain’s Armed Police Officers
Sex Claims, Racism Rows, Lies To Bosses And A Child Image Conviction: More Than A Dozen Police Officers From Ten Forces Face Misconduct Hearings In One Week
Sex assault allegations at a leisure venue, racist WhatsApp-style messages, dishonesty over fitness tests, vetting failures, misuse of police systems and a child image conviction were all examined in one extraordinary week of misconduct hearings spanning forces across England. More than a dozen police officers from at least ten forces faced misconduct hearings within the… Continue reading Sex Claims, Racism Rows, Lies To Bosses And A Child Image Conviction: More Than A Dozen Police Officers From Ten Forces Face Misconduct Hearings In One Week
Ex-cop Sent Explicit Sex Messages After Telling Woman He Was A Police Officer – But Avoids Sanction After Quitting Force
A former Avon and Somerset Police officer sent graphic sexual messages to a woman after identifying himself as a police constable, a misconduct hearing has ruled – but he escaped any sanction after resigning the day before proceedings began. Former PC George Thompson faced an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing over sexually explicit Snapchat messages sent to… Continue reading Ex-cop Sent Explicit Sex Messages After Telling Woman He Was A Police Officer – But Avoids Sanction After Quitting Force
Misconduct Hearings Today – Tuesday 3 February 2026
Police officers accused of sexual assault, harassment, dishonesty, misuse of force and serious safeguarding failures are facing misconduct hearings today with some allegations dating back more than four years. A string of officers from forces across England, including the Metropolitan Police Service and Avon & Somerset Constabulary, are due to appear before misconduct panels today… Continue reading Misconduct Hearings Today – Tuesday 3 February 2026
Gloucestershire Cops Face Final Written Warning For Abusing Vulnerable Mental Health Patient
Two Gloucestershire officers receive final written warnings after using excessive force and offensive language towards a vulnerable person in mental health crisis. PC Tyler Harris and PC Stuart Baker of Gloucestershire Constabulary were found to have committed gross misconduct in their treatment of a vulnerable individual detained under the Mental Health Act at Gloucester Royal… Continue reading Gloucestershire Cops Face Final Written Warning For Abusing Vulnerable Mental Health Patient
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
PC Ted Andrews Banned From Driving After Being Caught Drink-driving For 16mths
An off-duty police officer has been banned from driving for 16 months after admitting he was over the legal alcohol limit behind the wheel. Ted Andrews, a serving officer, was stopped by police on Drove Road, Swindon, on September 20, 2025. A roadside breath test showed he had 59 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres… Continue reading PC Ted Andrews Banned From Driving After Being Caught Drink-driving For 16mths
PC Ted Andrews Charged With Drink Driving After Off-duty Incident On Swindon’s Magic Roundabout
PC Ted Andrews, a 19-year-old response officer based in Swindon, has been charged with drink driving after being found over the legal limit when his car broke down on the town’s Magic Roundabout. A serving Wiltshire Police officer has been charged with drink driving following an incident in Swindon while off duty on September 20.… Continue reading PC Ted Andrews Charged With Drink Driving After Off-duty Incident On Swindon’s Magic Roundabout
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
Pc Suzanne Robinson Caught Using Force Computers For Her Own Car Insurance Claim Avoids The Sack
A misconduct panel found PC Suzanne Robinson accessed Gloucestershire Police databases to help with her private insurance case – but ruled she should keep her job after showing remorse and admitting what she’d done. A police officer who used force computer systems to speed up her own car insurance claim has escaped dismissal after misconduct… Continue reading Pc Suzanne Robinson Caught Using Force Computers For Her Own Car Insurance Claim Avoids The Sack
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
