30 officers sacked and barred from West Yorkshire Police

Since 2017, officers sacked for misconduct have been added to the 'barred list', which prevents them from working for the police.

Latest statistics from the College of Policing show 30 officers were sacked and barred from West Yorkshire Police in 2023-24 - the highest figure since at least 2018-19.

Of these, 12 were dismissed and banned while serving, while 17 had already resigned and one had retired.

Since 2018-19, 71 officers have been kicked out of West Yorkshire Police.

West Yorkshire Police headquarters in Wakefield (Image: West Yorkshire Police)Detective Chief Superintendent Nicola Bryar, head of West Yorkshire Police's Professional Standards Directorate, said: "It is important that our officers and staff meet the highest standards of behaviour at all times, so the communities we serve can be confident in the delivery of our policing services.  

"These high numbers show that we treat reports of misconduct seriously and that when the evidence allows, we take our officers and staff to gross misconduct hearings to ensure they are dismissed form policing and placed on the barred list to prevent them from working in policing again. 

"The vast majority of people employed by West Yorkshire Police act with integrity and professionalism at all times. 

"However, where conduct falls below the standards rightly expected by the force and the general public then those matters will be dealt with firmly." 

Examples of recent cases

The new figures relate to officers placed on the barred list following a conduct hearing between April 1, 2023, and March 31 of this year.

This would include former PC Cameron Lindley, who was found to have used excessive force during the restraint of a man in Bradford on December 1, 2021.

A misconduct hearing, which took place in September last year, found Lindley breached the police standards of professional behaviour.

The panel concluded his actions amounted to gross misconduct and he was dismissed without notice. 

As a result, he was barred from working in policing in future.

Meanwhile, former PC Adam Brown was the subject of a West Yorkshire Police misconduct hearing in December last year.

The hearing was told that as a series of dolls were brought out for a CPR exercise on September 29, 2022, Brown said: "Can I have the black one so I can stamp on its head?"

Six officers who spoke at the hearing and others who provided witness statements challenged and reported Brown's comments.

The panel found the allegation was proved and that the former officer would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had he not already resigned from the profession prior to the hearing. 

'Effective, robust procedures in place'

According to the latest statistics from the College of Policing, 593 officers were fired and barred from police forces across England and Wales in 2023-24, up 50 per cent from 394 a year earlier.

The College of Policing is a professional body for people working in forces.

Assistant Chief Constable Tom Harding, director of operational standards at the organisation, said: "It is, of course, hugely disappointing to see the conduct of a number of officers falling far below the standard that we set for policing and which the public rightly expects.

"However, these figures show that we have effective, robust procedures in place to identify and deal with these officers swiftly, and to prevent them from holding future roles in within the police."

He said there was "nowhere to hide" for those who do not meet police standards, warning their behaviour erodes public trust.

"The service will continue working to ensure we attract the right people into policing, ensuring that those who fail to meet these high standards have no future in policing," he added. 

Among all police forces, dishonesty was the most common reason recorded for sacking, in 125 cases, while sexual offences or misconduct was recorded in 74.

Discriminatory behaviour was recorded in 71 cases, and unlawful access to or disclosure of information in 66.

Eighteen officers were sacked for being part of a discriminatory WhatsApp group, the same number for possessing indecent images of children, and 33 for abusing their position for a sexual purpose.

More than one reason can be cited as grounds for dismissal.