TWO police officers have been given written warnings for misconduct after allegedly abandoning a vulnerable man in Alcester.
Police sergeant Peter Nightingale, a West Mercia Police officer based at Worcester, and police constable Ben Trowman, a Warwickshire Police officer based at Evesham, appeared before a tribunal at Leek Wootton last week, accused of failing to take a vulnerable man to an appropriate place of safety during the course of their duty on Thursday, February 2, 2016.
The hearing, which started last Wednesday and ended on Friday (October 27), found they both breached the standards of professional behaviour expected of them.
Conducted by Steven Evans, an independent legally qualified chair, the hearing followed an investigation by the Professional Standards Department (PSD) of Warwickshire and West Mercia Police.
Chief Inspector Rebecca Love, of the PSD, said: “The Panel found that PC 0058 Trowman’s and PS 0305 Nightingale’s actions amounted to misconduct and breached the standards of professional behaviour in the area of duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct.
“It is for this reason both received a written warning.The independent legally qualified chair also recommended that the officers should receive relevant training and supervision so that this incident is not repeated.”
Chief Inspector Love added: “We expect all our officers and staff to recognise that a person is vulnerable if, as a result of their situation or circumstances, they are unable to take care of, or protect themselves or others from harm or exploitation.
“We are working hard to ensure all of our staff understand this broader definition of vulnerability and are able to act accordingly when carrying out their duties.”
The outcome of the misconduct hearing is subject to the normal appeals process.
