By Sammie Jones-
A police officer is to face a misconduct hearing over claims he sold police property on auction site eBay.
PC Hitchcocks, formerly based at Eccleshill Police Station as part of West Yorkshire Police’s off-road motorcycle team, allegedly took a pair of motorcycle boots from a locker room at the station and sold them for £170.
The force said that CCTV footage from the police station was viewed and PC David Hitchcocks was captured on footage from July 2, 2019, entering the police station empty handed, and leaving a short time later with a large carrier bag.
Several days later on July 13, a pair of motorcycle boots matching those missing were found for sale on eBay. The account holder relating to the sale of the boots was identified as PC Hitchcocks. The boots were sold for £170.
It is claimed that the account holder relating to the sale of the boots was identified as PC Hitchcocks.
It is further alleged that four other items of motorcycle clothing and another pair of motorcycle boots, of brands used by West Yorkshire Police, had been sold using the account held by PC Hitchcocks between January and October 2018.
The force said: “It is alleged that PC Hitchcocks has breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct.”
The misconduct hearing is due to take place between April 20 and 22
Disgraceful
The disgraceful misconduct is not an isolated one in the police force.
Between January 2019 and 2020, a former police drugs expert made over £10,000 by selling equipment commonly used for growing cannabis online.
Former Nottinghamshire Police constable Stuart Clarke sold more than 140 items on his personal eBay account between January 2019 and September 2020.
Mr Clarke left the force in November while under investigation. and was subsequently found guilty of gross misconduct.
Mr Clarke’s activity was discovered during a routine vetting check in October.
He was arrested in November on suspicion of having stolen seized equipment from cannabis grows but he told investigators he had bought the items – which included lighting systems and Ph monitors – legitimately at car boot sales