Former special constable barred from police career over horse-riding lies

A former special constable has been barred from any further policing career after claiming he was an Olympic horse rider and coach.

Christopher Harper-Davies told colleagues he had been a member of the Team GB dressage team, had competed at the highest level of competition and coached Singapore's only Olympic dressage rider.

He also told his superiors he had previously served as a special constable with Sussex Police and was given extra responsibilities, a misconduct hearing was told.

The hearing heard the officer had applied to join Gloucestershire Police in October 2021 and began his duties in Cheltenham the following year.

Stephen Morley, presenting the case for the Appropriate Authority, told an accelerated misconduct hearing Mr Harper-Davies's lies were a breach of honesty and integrity.

"These matters were investigated when it became apparent he had been lying about his previous policing experience and his ability as a horse rider," he said.

"In response to an email from a supervisor he is saying he is an extremely experienced horse rider and had competed up to grand prix dressage level and was coaching a Singapore Olympic dressage rider.

"On another occasion he told a special constable that he had represented Team GB in dressage.

"He admitted what he asserted wasn't true. He said he was a very capable rider and had ridden since a young boy, but he was wrong in the detail of competing at grand prix level.

"What he should have said was that he was trained to that level but that he had not competed.

"When he was interviewed, he said he was scared of competing and that's why he had not competed."

The hearing heard the Singapore Olympic rider had for a time been trained by Mr Harper-Davies's then partner but he had not been involved.

Mr Morley said Mr Harper-Davies had accepted during an interview with professional standards that he had been dishonest about his previous policing experience, as well as his horse riding ability.

"We say he has breached honesty and integrity. He is clearly telling lies and he has been acting without integrity," he said.

The hearing, which was being chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson, heard Mr Harper-Davies had resigned in December 2023.

He had not attended the hearing, had not submitted any formal response to the allegations and was not legally represented.

In a letter of resignation, he apologised and said he "deeply regrets" his actions and is "sorry for his behaviour."

Mr Mathieson said he found all three allegations against Mr Harper-Davies proven and that they amounted to gross misconduct.

"These lies took place on multiple occasions and he admits they were dishonest," he said.

"As a result of his lies he was allowed to assume extra responsibilities. Those lies were a serious breach of integrity.

"Special Constable Harper-Davies would have been dismissed if he was still a member of the police force.

"He will be placed on the police barred list."

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