Serving Essex Police officer 'failed to investigate assault properly'
A police officer based in Colchester has been found to have committed gross misconduct after failing to investigate a report of assault properly. PC Thomas Lee was issued with a formal warning in connection with Duties and Responsibilities and Discreditable Conduct which will last for 18 months. The officer, who is still serving, has been found to have committed misconduct by failing to investigate correctly.
An investigation by our Professional Standards Department found Police Constable Thomas Lee had acted unsatisfactorily after he attended an incident in Colchester on July 9 last year, where he met with a man who was waiting in an ambulance and who informed the officer he had been assaulted.
During attendance, PC Thomas Lee’s colleague watched CCTV and confirmed to the victim and PC Lee that the man had been assaulted. However, PC Lee failed in his duties by 'not listening' to either the victim or his colleague and incorrectly updated the Force Control Room that the victim had not been assaulted but received facial injuries as a result of a fall. He also failed to record the assault as a crime or take steps to secure any evidence. Several hours later, PC Lee personally made an entry on the log of attendance that the man had not been assaulted.
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It was alleged that his actions breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour of Duties and Responsibilities and Discreditable Conduct, and a misconduct hearing took place at the end of August to investigate the claims. At the misconduct hearing, chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan at Chelmsford Civic Centre, commencing Tuesday August 27, the case was proven as misconduct. As a result, he was issued a written warning in connection with Duties and Responsibilities and Discreditable Conduct which will last for 18 months.
Assistant Chief Constable Nolan said: “PC Lee’s actions fell well below the high standards we demand and expect every day at Essex Police. All victims of crime must be treated with courtesy and respect, listened to, and supported and safeguarded as an absolute minimum standard as set out in police training and reflected in all our policies, to help them during what is a very distressing time.
“The public rightly expect that all allegations of crime are thoroughly and robustly investigated. I want to reassure the public that the overwhelming majority of officers, staff, and volunteers are dedicated to serving our communities professionally and to the highest of standards.” A third allegation of Honesty and Integrity was not proven.