A SERVING Essex Police officer who was accused of saying she had, while off duty, been in the vicinity of a serious collision in Grays when she was actually elsewhere has been found to have not committed gross misconduct.

PC Tanya Gorbutt was working for the Essex force's Serious Collision Investigation Unit at the time of a collision in Grays in April 2016.

In April 2019, PC Gorbutt completed a report in relation to the incident, but it was alleged that some of the information contained within the report did not happen and at the time of the collision she had been elsewhere.

It was alleged this had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to 'Honesty and Integrity' and 'Discreditable Conduct'.

An Essex Police misconduct hearing was held at Chelmsford Civic Centre between 12 October and 13 October.

The panel, led by legally qualified chair Harry Ireland, found the allegations were not proven.

Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills said: "Essex Police expects the highest professional standards from its officers and staff and where an individual is accused of falling below those standards we do not shy away from tackling it.

"This was a serious accusation and was rightly investigated thoroughly.

"We presented our evidence to the panel and they found the allegations were not proven.