A Devon and Cornwall Police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct following an investigation into allegations of child neglect but has avoided dismissal. The Special Case Misconduct Hearing, chaired by Chief Constable James Vaughan at the force’s Middlemoor HQ in Exeter, concluded with the officer receiving a final written warning lasting two years.
The unnamed Police Constable was found to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour, specifically “Discreditable Conduct”, under Regulation 63 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020. The misconduct involved the use of a belt to chastise a child, referred to as “Child A”, in what was described as an incident of “excessive chastisement” that led to the officer receiving a Deferred Caution.
‘Culpability High’ – Chair Finds Officer’s Conduct Criminal
Chief Constable Vaughan determined the officer’s actions met the threshold for gross misconduct due to the high level of culpability and emotional harm inflicted, despite the lack of physical injuries. He ruled the officer’s conduct met the legal definition of child neglect under Section 1(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.
The hearing found that while the incident took place off duty, it still posed a significant risk to public trust in the police service. The chair stated: “A police officer committing a criminal act is capable of seriously undermining public confidence in Devon and Cornwall Police and the wider police service.”
