A detective who drove while drunk has been dismissed from Essex Police.
Detective Sergeant Philip Greaves admitted drink driving when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court earlier this year.
At the subsequent gross misconduct hearing, the panel heard Det Sgt Greaves had been stopped in a supermarket car park on July 8 2020, following calls from a concerned member of the public.
The car had been hitting the kerb repeatedly and, when officers breathalysed the off-duty officer, they found that he was over the drink drive limit and he was immediately arrested and suspended.
Yesterday, (Thursday June24) at Essex Police Headquarters in Chelmsford, the Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington found that Detective Sergeant Greaves’ actions had amounted to gross misconduct and he had committed Discreditable Conduct.
He has been dismissed from the force with immediate effect and 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. 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 Sergeant Greaves has been convicted of a criminal offence.
“At an accelerated misconduct hearing today, I have dismissed Sergeant Greaves as his conviction, and the action that brought it about, bring discredit on the force amounting to gross misconduct. This seriously risks undermining the public’s trust and confidence in Essex Police.
“It is always a shame when an officer with a previously good record is dismissed, but the public of Essex are entitled to expect the highest standards from those charged with protecting them.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here