Police officers to face misconduct over Middlesbrough incident

The officers, who are known only as Officer A and Officer B, will be subject to a Gross Misconduct Hearing at The Destiny Centre in Norton Road, Norton at 10am - following a string of allegations posed against them. 

As part of the misconduct hearing, both officers are accused of allowing a  victim to smoke something which suspected or ought to have suspected was a controlled substance in their and other witnesses’ presence. 

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The incident is alleged to have happened on September 19, 2022, in Middlesbrough, while both officers were on duty. 

During the same incident, the officers are alleged to have "allowed a victim to ignite or attempt to ignite something in circumstances which gave rise to a foreseeable risk of significant injury to the victim and others present".

Further charges involving deactivating body cameras and failing to disclose information to medical workers are also highlighted in the misconduct documents. 

Officer A is alleged to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour by:

• Allowed a victim to smoke something which suspected or ought to have suspected was a controlled substance in their and other witnesses’ presence.
• Allowed a victim to ignite or attempt to ignite something in circumstances which gave rise to a foreseeable risk of significant injury to the victim and others present.
• Intentionally deactivated their body worn video to stop it recording. In doing so, they failed to capture evidence and/or sought to conceal what you went on to do/not do.

• Failed to be accurate and honest about the aforementioned. In particular, they did not give a complete, accurate and/or honest account: a) To medical professionals, in circumstances where they ought to have known that suspected ingestion of a controlled substance may be relevant to treatment and care; b) In a signed witness statement, complete with a statement of truth, dated September 22, 2022; and c) Whilst giving evidence in court on February 28, 2023.

Meanwhile, officer B is alleged to have breached these standards: 

• Allowed a victim to smoke something suspected to be a controlled substance in their and other witnesses’ presence. Further or in the alternative, Officer B failed to challenge or report Officer A.
• Allowed a victim to ignite or attempt to ignite something in circumstances gave rise to a foreseeable risk of significant injury to the victim and others present. Further or in the alternative, Officer B failed to challenge or report Officer A.
• Intentionally deactivated their body worn video so as to stop it recording. In doing so, they failed to capture evidence and/or sought to conceal what you went on to do/not do.
• Officer B failed to be open and honest about the aforementioned to medical professionals, in circumstances where they ought to have known that suspected ingestion of a controlled substance may be relevant to treatment and care.

The allegations against both officers breach Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Discreditable Conduct, Duties and Responsibilities and Honesty and Integrity. Allegations against Officer B also relate to Challenging and Reporting Improper Conduct.