Cop Fired After Guilty Verdict for Domestic Assault
A police officer has been sacked for gross misconduct following a conviction for domestic assault. PC James Russell, 28, was officially dismissed on 5 May after a misconduct hearing found he breached professional standards and acted discreditably. He had 10 working days to appeal, which passed on 19 May with no challenge.
Drunken Row Leads to Court and Courtroom Conviction
The rapid misconduct hearing followed Russell’s guilty verdict at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on 5 March 2021. He was fined £959 after being found guilty of common assault for an incident in Surbiton in July 2020.
Russell had spent hours drinking at a Surbiton pub before storming into an argument with his partner on 22 July 2020. The row escalated into violence in broad daylight, witnessed by multiple members of the public and caught on CCTV.
Russell was promptly arrested by Metropolitan Police at the scene and later summonsed to court on advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.
Zero Tolerance: Police Say No to Violence
Russell was suspended immediately after his arrest. Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Alison Barlow slapped down the officer’s behaviour.
“Violent behaviour of any nature will not be condoned, least of all by our own police officers, who play a vital role in building and maintaining trust and confidence in our local communities.
“Unfortunately, one case has the ability to undermine the good work we see our teams doing every day to protect the public.
“Any allegations made against our officers or staff will always be treated seriously and fully investigated. It doesn’t matter that they are a police officer – they will always be held accountable and face the consequences.”
