A misconduct hearing has resulted in the dismissal of Police Constable Stephen Cotgreave, a member of the Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) team, following an incident involving the loss of ammunition while on duty at Buckingham Palace.
Incident Summary
The misconduct hearing addressed allegations that on 6 December 2022, PC Cotgreave dropped the magazine from his police-issued firearm while patrolling the grounds of Buckingham Palace. After retrieving and replacing the magazine, PC Cotgreave later returned the firearm to the armoury, where it was discovered that one round of ammunition was missing.
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When questioned about the missing round, PC Cotgreave denied dropping the magazine and stated that he had no explanation for the lost ammunition. However, CCTV footage later confirmed the incident and revealed how the ammunition was lost.
Misconduct Hearing
The hearing, held on Monday, 18 November 2024, at the Empress State Building in London, determined that PC Cotgreave’s actions breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour, specifically relating to Honesty and Integrity. It concluded that his conduct amounted to gross misconduct, a finding severe enough to justify his dismissal.
