By Eric King-
A Wandsworth police officer who assaulted a member of staff has been dismissed following a special case misconduct hearing yesterday.
Former Wandsworth Police officer, Pc Melanie Davies was drunk when she assaulted a member of staff at the Bat and Ball in Westfield Stratford City in May, when supposedly on sick leave
The 36-year-old Wandsworth police officer was refused service at the bar after staff perceived she was drunk and escorted her from the building, but the angry officer assaulted a staff member in a bitter reaction to the fact she was denied further alcohol.The assault was a disgraceful reaction from an officer who is expected to always uphold high standards of conduct and morality.
The news of the Wandsworth police officer’s dismissal came on the same day as another officer in Manchester, Rebecca Sutcliffe, was facing a disciplinary hearing for misconduct after she flashed her breasts and behaved disrespectfully against a colleague of hers, temporary superintendent Sarah Jackson who had undergone breast enhancement.
The £109,000 a year senior officer berated her colleague for having a boob job, threatening to deny her promotion because of it. The misconduct by both officers is a huge shame on the police force and calls for more action to be done to train officers to conduct themselves respectfully even among their colleagues.
Asst Comm Helen King, who was chairing the hearing, told the eye of media.com
“Police officers are granted powers over their fellow citizens to enforce the law on others and, where necessary, to use force in order to do so.
“This requires that the public and law makers have confidence that those entrusted to uphold the law will comply with it themselves, both on and off duty.
“Some cases are clearly more serious than others both in the category of the offence and all the surrounding circumstances.
“An offence of assault, however minor, is one that has to be seen as serious given the nature and responsibilities of a police officer’s role. Therefore the only appropriate action for Pc Davies in this case is dismissal.”
Pc Davies, who served at Wandsworth borough, had previously been found guilty of assault at Thames Magistrates’ Court. The police officer’s career is now in tatters, and she has herself to blame for it. Hopefully, these cases will serve as a warning to other officers to positively represent the job they do at all times