AN Avon and Somerset police constable has been sacked for a catalogue of unacceptable behaviour during his "short service", including trying to acquire illegal drugs.

PC A, whose name has been withheld, was found to have sent an inappropriate text just four days after joining the force.

A misconduct hearing on Wednesday was told that during his brief career in uniform:

  • he entered into an inappropriate relationship with a young woman he met while working;
  • he failed to disclose that relationship to his senior officers;
  • he disclosed information relating to a police incident to an unauthorised recipient;
  • he failed to act openly and honestly when requesting leave and falsely claimed to be sick;
  • he sough to acquire illegal drugs other than in the line of duty.

Following the hearing, PC A was barred from policing after being found guilty of gross misconduct and was dismissed without notice.

Chief Constable Andy March, who oversaw the remote hearing, said the police constable had breached acceptable standards around honesty, integrity and confidentiality among others.

He added that PC A had "abused his position" by entering into the inappropriate relationship and not being transparent about it.

Chief Constable Marsh said: "This is a particularly serious case for which the only and most appropriate sanction can be dismissal without notice.

"In their own right each finding of gross misconduct is serious enough to justify dismissal.

"Viewed collectively PC A’s conduct is nothing short of disgraceful and the public must have full confidence that there is no place for such serious misconduct within policing."