Former police constable found culpable of gross misconduct
A former police constable has been found culpable of gross misconduct following an accelerated misconduct hearing in June.
On 19 June Acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell concluded that former Police Constable Daniel Leggasick had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of Honesty and Integrity, Duties and Responsibilities, Orders and Instructions and Discreditable Conduct, and had he still been serving, he would have been dismissed without notice.
The hearing looked at two allegations, firstly, that former Police Constable Leggasick falsely declared in a crime report he had provided words of advice to relevant parties involved in a case on 29 November 2023 when no such advice was given.
Former Constable Leggasick subsequently admitted this was a false and misleading update, in that no such words of advice had been given to either party.
Secondly, on 5 December 2023, former Constable Leggasick presented a copy of an interview plan to his assessor, purportedly for an interview that took place on the 14 June 2023. Former Constable Leggasick has subsequently admitted that this document had in fact been produced by him on the 7 December 2023, shortly after it had been requested by his assessor.
Former Constable Leggasick has fully admitted that his conduct on both occasions was deliberate, misleading and dishonest.
Following the hearing it was concluded that the allegations were proven and that is behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.
Superintendent Jo Arundale from the Devon and Cornwall Police Professional Standards Department said: “The Force and the public expect all officers, staff and volunteers to carry out their roles to a high standard and to behave in an honest manner. In this case, former Police Constable Daniel Leggasick’s actions have fallen below that.
“Deliberately and dishonestly misleading a supervisor departs significantly from the expectation clearly held by the public in terms of how an officer should conduct themselves, both on and off duty.
“This is not a case of an officer making a mistake or exercising poor judgement whilst under extreme stress or provocation whilst doing their duty. Former Constable Leggasick deliberately chose to misconduct himself on both occasions, knowing that he was misleading his supervisor and his assessor.”
The full outcome of the hearing can be read here - Notice2 (devon-cornwall.police.uk)
Anyone can report any concerns directly to Devon & Cornwall Police by calling 101, visiting the Force website or emailing countercorruptionunit@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk. Alternatively members of the public can contact the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) – details of which can be found via their website www.policeconduct.gov.uk.
You can also report matters to the Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service, which is run by the independent charity Crimestoppers. Crimestoppers can take reports from the public about individuals working within Devon & Cornwall Police, as well as any police force in the UK, regardless of whether the information relates to them whilst they are on or off duty, online or in person. Reports can be submitted online and telephone calls are free. Information received by Crimestoppers will be passed to the Force’s Counter Corruption Unit, who will assess it.
You can contact the new service by calling 0800 085 0000 or via Crimestoppers' website to provide information you have about a serving police officer, staff member or volunteer in the UK.
