New stats: Hundreds of police officers dismissed over last year
South Wales Police dismissed fourteen officers last year - the highest in Wales according to the College of Policing
More than 730 police officers were sacked and barred from returning to the service last year, figures show.
According to the College of Policing, 735 officers were placed on the barred list in the year to March 31 2025, up from 593 the previous year, an increase of 24%.
The latest figures from the College of Policing for the police barred list include categories for the reason for sacking, with 1,149 recorded in total, as multiple reasons can apply to one case.
The most common reasons given for dismissal were dishonesty (126), discriminatory behaviour (95), unlawful access or disclosure of information (82), inappropriate communications (81), and sexual offences or misconduct (72).
Other cases involved abuse of position for a sexual purpose (31), child sexual offence (21), being in a discriminatory WhatsApp group (45), domestic abuse or harassment (26), and drugs (44).
Number of officer dismissed in Wales in the last year:
- Dyfed-Powys Police dismissed 6 officers
- South Wales Police dismissed 14 officers
- Gwent Police dismissed 4 officers
- North Wales Police dismissed 4 officers
Government workforce data shows that across England and Wales 8.5% of officers were from minority ethnic groups in the year to March 31 2025.
The data showed that among those added to the list, 641 officers and specials were white, along with 240 staff.
Looking at gender, 133 officers and specials were female, with 632 male and one who preferred to self-describe; while 99 police staff were female and 181 were male.
Commenting on the dismissals due to discriminatory behaviour and sexual offences or misconduct; Stephanie Grimshaw from Welsh Women's Aid said:
"Unfortunately, we're not shocked to hear of the police officers that have been sacked."
"We know that some spaces within the police forces are unfortunately not safe, for women and survivors.
"We know it really has become an unsafe space, and that's why we don't often see the reports coming through and survivors telling the police that something has happened to them.
"It's a real concern with attitudes amongst police as well, and it requires urgent and systematic reform.
"It's not just one bad apple now- it's systemic within the police."
"Any time an officer’s behaviour breaches professional standards it leaves a permanent stain"
Assistant Chief Constable Tom Harding, director of operational standards at the College of Policing, said: “These figures show a determined and robust effort from police forces to rid policing of officers whose behaviour falls below the high standards that we, and the public, expect from them.
“It goes without saying that any time an officer’s behaviour breaches professional standards, or even strays into criminality, it leaves a permanent stain on the reputation of policing.
“The message is clear: our policing system is built on upholding our code of ethics, on courage, respect and empathy and public service, and there is no place in our police service for anyone whose behaviour goes against these values.”
We've asked South Wales Police to respond.