A FORMER Essex Police officer would have been dismissed for gross misconduct after failing to intervene when he spotted a cyclist riding towards oncoming traffic. Shortly afterwards the rider was killed in a collision.

Former PC Nicholas Davies was found to have breached police standards of professional behaviour following an accelerated misconduct hearing on Thursday, 12 November.

The hearing was told Davies was on duty, just after midnight on 25 March, when he spotted a cyclist riding in the dark towards oncoming traffic as he drove towards the Army & Navy Roundabout in Chelmsford.

The sighting was captured on his body-worn camera, but despite recognising the danger, Davies failed to stop, turn his vehicle around or report the incident.

The cyclist was later involved in a collision on the A130 and died at the scene.

Police carried out a lengthy investigation at the scene of the crash.

The hearing also heard that Davies subsequently accessed reports about the fatal collision on police systems and reviewed his body-worn video footage in the days following the incident.

Davies faced allegations of breaching the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to orders and instructions, duties and responsibilities, and discreditable conduct.

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Chief Constable Rachel Nolan, who chaired the hearing, found all allegations proven and ruled that Davies would have been dismissed without notice had he still been a serving officer.

Following the hearing, Nolan said: "We join policing to keep people safe and protect the local community. Indeed, one of the primary duties of an officer is to protect life.

"Former PC Davies' actions on that evening and the following days fell well below the standard expected of all officers in Essex Police."

She said the safety of the public, particularly vulnerable road users, must be a priority for police officers.

"To disregard those basic principles is wholly unacceptable. It undermines public trust and lets down the many officers who carry out their duties diligently and responsibly every day to protect people," she added.