Off-duty cop dismissed for drink driving
An 'accelerated misconduct hearing' was held in front of Acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell
Last updated 2nd Oct 2023
A police officer has been sacked after admitting to drink driving - while off duty - at Plymouth Magistrates.
PC Ian MacQueen was arrested in December, and has also been banned from driving for 22 months and given a more than £800 fine
Following the hearing, A/Chief Constable Jim Colwell ruled that PC MacQueen’s actions amounted to gross misconduct, and decided the sanction should be dismissal without notice.
He added: “PC MacQueen’s conduct fell well below what we expect from our officers.
“Whether officers are on or off-duty, we expect exemplary behaviour and where these standards are not met, we will seek to remove those individuals from the organisation.
“All police officers are expected to abide by the Code of Ethics and ensure the highest standards of ethical behaviour, this has evidently not been the case on this occasion.
“The principal objective of these hearings must be to preserve public confidence in the police and the outcome of the Accelerated Misconduct Hearing is the appropriate sanction.”
The public hearing took place on Thursday 21 September, where PC Ian MacQueen faced allegations of two breaches of the Standards of Professional Behaviour namely Discreditable Conduct and Honesty and Integrity.
The panel heard how PC MacQueen had been arrested on 7th December 2022 while off-duty, on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink. He pleaded guilty to the Section 5 Drink Drive offence.
On 6th June 2023, PC MacQueen attended Plymouth Magistrates’ Court where he was disqualified from driving for 22 months and handed an £827 fine.
PC MacQueen had been suspended from duty while this case was ongoing.