A MISCONDUCT panel has found a police officer breached standards of behaviour and has been dismissed without notice at an accelerated misconduct hearing this week which was chaired by Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington.

The panel, which met on Tuesday, 9 September, heard that ex-PC Nicole Canwell had reported using cannabis while at home and off-duty. This disclosure was made after she was the subject of a random drug test.

While the former officer admitted what she had done, the panel found that she had breached standards of behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct at a level of gross misconduct and was dismissed without notice.

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: "It is not acceptable for police officers to take illegal drugs under any circumstances.

"While I acknowledge ex-PC Canwell's serious regret around her behaviour, she made a choice to take illegal drugs and was therefore dismissed.

"This is a serious breach of professional standards. The public must have the confidence that when they need a police officer, they are arriving to help, highly trained and with a clear mind and not having broken the law that they are paid to uphold."

The chief added: "Ex-PC Canwell has ended her career through a serious and avoidable gross misconduct. If she had come forward for support or with an admission before she was faced with drugs testing, then this outcome could have been different.

"However, it is only when faced with discovery that ex-PC Canwell did admit her guilt. There are thousands of other officers in Essex and beyond who, despite stress and pressure, do not break the law and the standards of professional behaviour. She has undermined public trust and confidence in them all."