Wiltshire Police officer who fled crash scene would have been dismissed, hearing finds

Former PC Peter Lawson had already resigned from his role with the force

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 15th May 2024
Last updated 15th May 2024

A misconduct panel at Wiltshire Police has found an officer who failed to stop a the scene of an accident would have been sacked had he not already quit his job.

Ex-PC Peter Lawson failed to stop and provide the necessary information after colliding with another vehicle on the A4 Avenue La Fleche in Chippenham.

The misconduct hearing found his actions amounted to gross misconduct.

The accident in question happened on 7th December 2022 when Lawson was driving a police van on blue lights.

Having failed to stop, he was later identified as the officer involved and the case was handed over to Wiltshire Police's Professional Standards Department.

He was suspended before later resigning.

Lawson was found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of an accident when he appeared in court in November 2023, where he'd denied the offence.

He was fined £600, had his licence endorsed with five points and was ordered to pay £775 to the Crown Prosecution Service and a victim surcharge of £480. He was fined a further £600 for driving without due care and attention.

During the single day hearing in Devizes, the hearing, chaired by an Independent Legally Qualified Chair, heard four allegations against Lawson.

They included engaging in road rage whilst off duty, making inappropriate and disrespectful comments about a fellow officers and using a vehicle on a police operation which he had been told not to use.

All the allegations were upheld and it was determined his behaviour met the threshold for gross misconduct.

Had he not resigned, he would have been dismissed without notice.

Deputy Chief Constable Craig Dibdin said: “Lawson’s actions not only amounted to gross misconduct but they were illegal. We expect officers to reflect the highest standards of conduct while carrying out their duties and on this occasion Lawson’s actions fell far short of the public’s expectations.

“There is no place in our organisation for anyone who conducts themselves in this way and we encourage all members of the Force to use an anonymous reporting tool if they have concerns regarding a colleagues behaviour. We also encourage members of our communities who have concerns regarding a member of Wiltshire Police to report these also.”

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