Gross misconduct outcome - PC Elliot Watson

A Leicestershire police constable has been dismissed without notice following a gross misconduct hearing.

On 5 September 2023, while parking his car at Leicestershire Police Headquarters, PC Elliot Watson collided with another parked vehicle which belonged to a police staff member.

The hearing found that PC Watson knew he had collided with another vehicle. He then drove away parking in another area of the car park and did not report the collision or leave his details.

On 25 September 2023, during contact with another officer, PC Watson denied having knowledge of any incident taking place. The panel’s view was that the officer knew there had been a collision.

The hearing found the actions of the officer breached standards of professional behaviour, namely honesty and integrity, and discreditable conduct, and that this amounted to gross misconduct.

Detective Superintendent Alison Tompkins, head of the force’s Professional Standards Department, said: “By not reporting the collision and then continuing to deny knowledge of the incident, the officer lacked honesty and integrity.

“The public, and the force, rightly expect the highest standards of professional behaviour from all police officers and to be able to fully trust us in the work we do. After analysing the full circumstances of the incident, the panel was therefore left with no option but to reach the outcome of dismissal without notice.”