A police force is considering its 'legal options' after one of its officers kept her job despite being found guilty to gross misconduct when she urinated in a shop before lying about it.
PC Amelia Shearer was given a final written warning after a disciplinary panel ruled she had urinated in a cubicle in York's Urban Outfitters during a boozy trip to the city.
A Cleveland Police disciplinary panel heard how the young officer ignored being told there was no toilets and headed into a changing cubicle instead.
Today, her boss Chief Constable Mark Webster, said: “Officers must adhere to the highest standards of behaviour and exemplify our values, whether on or off duty.
“The actions of this officer are incompatible with my expectations for those who serve in Cleveland and out of keeping with their role, which other officers uphold with pride and integrity.
“Cleveland Police’s Department of Standards and Ethics prepare evidence for misconduct hearings. Evidence is heard and a determination made by a panel chaired by an independent Legally Qualified Chair (LQC).
“The misconduct process is in place to protect our standards and ensure public confidence in policing so we are concerned by the outcome determined at yesterday’s hearing. We are now considering the legal options available to us.”
Read more: Police officer keeps her job despite urinating on shop floor and then lying to her boss
The probationary officer was called 'exceptional' during the three day hearing at Middlesbrough FC's Riverside Stadium and was given the opportunity to resurrect her fledgling career.
Giving her ruling, Ogheneruona Iguyovwe, the legally qualified panel chairperson, said: “There is no doubt in the panel’s mind that PC Shearer has brought discredit on the police and undermined the trust and confidence the public has in the police."
However, the 24-year-old is able to remain in post with the force after the final warning was imposed for at least five years.
Olivia Checa-Dover, representing Cleveland Police, had argued for the officer's instant dismissal saying it was the only possible outcome as it was impossible to employ an officer found to have lied and still be able to work in the ‘evidential chain’ of criminal cases.
While Joan Smith, representing Ms Shearer, had urged the panel to give her the opportunity to overcome the incident and ‘flourish into an exceptional officer’.
The panel had heard how two members of staff had seen the puddle of urine in the changing floor just seconds after the officer left the cubicle and fled the city centre shop.
PC Shearer was later spotted in another bar and spoken to by officers before lying to her line manager about the incident, on September 11 last year, when she spoke to him the following morning.
Ms Iguyovwe said the panel accepted the evidence of the two shop workers as they had nothing to gain from not telling the truth.
A criminal investigation was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service due to a lack of evidence to secure a conviction.
Throughout the hearing, the young officer remained adamant that she had only popped into the changing rooms to adjust her underwear and profusely denied urinating in the cubicle when she gave evidence.
The officer admitted that she was ‘tipsy’ after enjoying a bottomless brunch where she downed half a bottle of prosecco and three cocktails before moving onto another bar for a Jack Daniels and coke and then heading into the store to look at clothes.
Read next:
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 hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel