Police Constable Niki Minev, based in Manchester, has been dismissed from his position following an accelerated misconduct hearing held on December 11, 2023. The hearing, conducted at British Transport Police Headquarters, addressed allegations of gross misconduct against PC Minev, which stemmed from an incident in 2022.
The incident in question occurred on October 8, 2022, when PC Minev, who was off duty at the time, was reported to have struck an individual in the face with a glass, resulting in severe injuries to the victim. Subsequently, he was arrested and later pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm at Liverpool Crown Court. The judge accepted his plea, and a preliminary date for sentencing has been scheduled for January 15, 2024.
The misconduct hearing, chaired by Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi and conducted in a public forum, found the allegations against PC Minev to be proven and classified them as gross misconduct. As a result, he was dismissed from his position without notice.
Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi expressed her concern over the officer’s actions, emphasizing the responsibility of police officers to protect the public from violent and disorderly behavior, both on and off duty. She stated, “Members of the public rightly expect police officers, both on and off duty, to protect them from violent and disorderly behavior. PC Minev did the opposite. His violent actions caused serious and lasting injury to his victim and have harmed public confidence in policing. There is no place in BTP for someone like that. I had no hesitation in dismissing him without notice.”
The decision to dismiss PC Minev underscores the British Transport Police’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of conduct among its officers and ensuring public trust in the policing profession. The case serves as a reminder of the accountability and transparency upheld within the British Transport Police force.