TWO more hearings have taken place at which details of misconduct by officers has been made public.

A misconduct hearing has determined an officer would have been dismissed from the force had he not already resigned. Following investigation led by Essex Police's Professional Standards Department, former Sergeant Llewellyn Holmes was found to have committed gross misconduct.

He breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in the areas of honesty and integrity, orders and instructions, duties and responsibilities, and discreditable conduct.

The investigation identified a sustained misuse of police time and resources while the officer was on duty, including the inappropriate use of police vehicles and spending time away from his proper place of work to pursue and manage personal relationships.

He will also be placed on the policing barred list so can never rejoin policing in any role.

Chief Constable Ben Julian Harrington said: "This former officer has undermined the trust of the public, misusing police vehicles for his own personal agenda related to personal relationships. 

"Whilst people in policing will understandably have personal relationships that form in the work place, they should never be at the cost of the service to the public, involve the misuse of police resource and importantly not infringe upon the rights of colleagues.

"Thanks to the diligent work of our Professional Standards Department, this conduct was identified, investigated and addressed robustly."

advertisement

At another hearing an officer has been dismissed without notice having been found to have committed gross misconduct.

It was alleged that Sergeant Charles Deebank intentionally hid a mobile phone which was subject of an investigation.

PS Deebank was off duty on 24 September 2024 when officers attended his home address. PS Deebank was arrested, and when asked to hand over his phone, he falsely stated that he had left it at the gym. He pretended to search for it in the two locations.

His home was searched by officers who located his phone hidden inside a boot, stored on top of a tall wardrobe.

At a two day misconduct hearing at Chelmsford Civic Centre held 7 and 8 April, a panel chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin determined that PS Deebank had breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to Honesty and Integrity and Discreditable Conduct.

 The panel determined the breaches amounted to gross misconduct and he was dismissed without notice. He will also be added to the College of Policing barred list.

ACC Pavelin said: "The actions of this sergeant were extremely serious. He actively sought to hinder an investigation by concealing the mobile phone, which is wholly unacceptable.

"As a police officer, and particularly as a supervising officer, he would have been fully aware of both the law and his clear duty to preserve and provide evidence from all relevant sources.

advertisement

"When anyone connected with policing behaves in a way that falls below the high standards we expect, they will be dealt with through the appropriate disciplinary proceedings, as has happened in this case."

CC Harrington concluded: ""We are committed to maintaining the highest standards across Essex Police, and where those standards are breached, we will take decisive action to protect public trust and confidence."

"All officers, staff and volunteers are expected to uphold the law and act with honesty and integrity at all times."