UPDATE | Force statement following recent misconduct hearing
Following continued news and social media speculation regarding the recent gross misconduct hearing of former police sergeant Tim Perrin, we feel it necessary and appropriate to ensure there is wider public understanding and trust in the police misconduct process.
At a two-day gross misconduct panel hearing this week, Mr Perrin was found to have been culpable for gross misconduct and dismissed with immediate effect.
Mr Perrin was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour in terms of honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct. This related to his reply to a notice of intended prosecution following a speeding offence in his private vehicle.
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Dave Thorne said: “This matter was never about a speeding offence in isolation, it is about a police officer upholding the highest levels of honesty and integrity – something I hope the public would expect, respect and understand.
“In this case, concerns around Mr Perrin’s honesty and integrity were internally reported to our professional standards department and were appropriately investigated as a result.
“Police officers are given privilege and power, with that comes a requirement to abide by standards of professional behaviour which all officers are made aware of from the moment they are recruited and trained.
“While these standards maybe considered high, it is entirely necessary to ensure police officers have legitimacy and the trust of our communities.”
Temporary DCC Thorne added: “In this case the gross misconduct panel did not accept the account provided by the officer to be true and that his actions showed a lack of integrity and subsequent undermining of public confidence in the police service.
“We must build public trust and confidence with our communities and demonstrate that no police officer is above the law or able to undermine our legitimacy at any point.
“A full report from the gross misconduct panel chair will be submitted to the force this week and provided to Mr Perrin. With that comes a period of time where an appeal can be considered should Mr Perrin wish to do so.”