Devon & Cornwall Police officer fired after gross misconduct hearing
It was alleged money taken for safekeeping from the house of someone who died was treated as their own
Last updated 10th Aug 2021
An officer from Devon and Cornwall Police has been fired after a gross misconduct hearing.
It follows an incident in Cornwall in 2018 where someone had died.
A panel heard allegations that the unnamed officer took over £100 for safekeeping, but later treated that as his own.
He was found to have breached standards around honesty and integrity.
The force says this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.
What are the details surrounding the dismissal?
Devon & Cornwall Police released the following information about the hearing in July:
'On Wednesday 28th July an officer was dismissed from Devon & Cornwall Police following a private gross misconduct hearing.
The officer has been granted anonymity and will not be identified.
The proceedings took place following allegations that the officer had breached the standards of behaviour concerning honesty and integrity.
It was alleged in June 2018 the officer attended an address in Cornwall where a person had died. In the normal course of his duties he removed £105 cash for safekeeping, however he later treated this money as his own.
The officer failed to properly secure the potential exhibit and the cash was later removed from its approved place of storage.
A fellow officer was misled as to the whereabouts of the money and there was a considerable delay before it was returned.
Following the two-day private hearing, the panel concluded that the allegations were proven and that the officer had breached the expected standards of professional behaviour.
The panel determined that the officer would be dismissed without notice and his details will be submitted to the College of Policing Barred List, preventing him from working within policing'.
How has the force responded?
Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, Head of Professional Standards, said: “The public and the police force expect the highest standards of behaviour from our police officers and on this occasion the officer has undermined that trust.
“His actions fell below the standards of behaviour that we all expect from a police officer and this type of behaviour will not be tolerated".