By Gavin Mackintosh-
An Essex Police officer has been accused of sending malicious letters to several people and stealing equipment during work hours, a misconduct hearing has heard.
The precise details of the malicious letters are not yet, but Essex police said they are waiting the LQC report which will include more detail and be widely published at the same time they receive it.
PC Matthew Turner resigned from Essex Police before a misconduct hearing on December 12, and would have been sacked had he still been in the job, Essex police said.
The hearing held at Chelmsford Civic Centre, chaired by independent Legally Qualified Chair Alexandra Robson, found three of four allegations against the officer to be proven, each of which amounted to gross misconduct.
PC Turner was found to have written and sent malicious letters to a number of people while on duty between 2017 and 2019. He was also alleged to have accessed a colleague’s locker and stolen items of police equipment- an allegation which was not proven during the investigation.
The panel also concluded that the former Essex Police officer would have been dismissed if he had not already resigned after three allegations of gross misconduct were proven.
The panel found three of four allegations to be proven, each of which amounted to gross misconduct.
Breaches Of Honesty And Integrity
The panel found breaches of the ‘honesty and integrity’ and ‘discreditable conduct’ standards of professional behaviour and declared that former-PC Turner would have been dismissed had he not already resigned from his position within the Operational Policing Command. His details will be added to the College of Policing barred list.
Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet said: “Former PC Turner’s behaviour fell far well below the standards we expect of our officers.
“The panel concluded his behaviour was dishonest, undermined public trust and confidence and amounted to gross misconduct.
“The Force is committed to supporting our staff, officers and volunteers but where behaviour fall so far below the standards required, we act accordingly.”
The panel found breaches of the ‘honesty and integrity’ and ‘discreditable conduct’ standards of professional behaviour and declared that Former-PC Turner would have been dismissed had he not already resigned from his position within the Operational Policing Command. His details will be added to the College of Policing barred list.
In 2018, another PC Matthew Turner, was dismissed after making made up charge allegations in order to detain a young boy.