A DETECTIVE sergeant for Essex Police has been dismissed by the force after being caught drink driving last year.

Concerned members of the public rang the police to alert them to then-Detective Sergeant Philip Greaves' driving on July 8, 2020.

Mr Greaves was observed bumping into the curb repeatedly before he was stopped by police in a supermarket car park. Officers breathalysed Greaves, who was off-duty at the time, and found that he was over the drink-drive limit.

He was immediately arrested and suspended from Essex Police.

Earlier this year, Greaves entered a guilty plea to a charge of drink-driving at Colchester Magistrates Court.

Following a misconduct hearing at the Essex Police Headquarters in Chelmsford yesterday (Thursday, 24 June), Greaves was found to have committed gross misconduct and as well as discreditable conduct.

He was subsequently dismissed from Essex Police, will be placed on the College of Policing Advisory list, which will prevent him from working in policing in the future.

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: "The overwhelming majority of our officers, staff and volunteers do an outstanding job protecting and serving Essex in line with our code of ethics and the law.

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"That is why it is so disappointing that a sergeant has been convicted of drink driving.

"We will investigate allegations of wrongdoing against our people and the public can be assured that the minority that are found to have fallen short of the high standards the public rightly expect they will be held to account.

"In this case, Sgt Greaves has been convicted of a criminal offence."