Police sack 19 officers and staff for misconduct

Almost 20 West Midlands Police officers and staff members were fired for misconduct within the last year, according to a report.

The figures, due to be presented to West Midlands Police and Crime Panel on Monday, show a total of 19 employees were sacked following misconduct hearings and meetings held in 2025/26.

A further 23 employees would have been dismissed had they not already left the force before their hearings took place, it added.

The figures emerge after recent misconduct allegations involving officers from the West Midlands force, including one who a panel said "abused his role for sexual purposes", and another who inappropriately accessed police records more than 2,000 times.

The report confirmed there were 12 gross misconduct hearings involving police officers, resulting in three sackings, six who would have been dismissed, one reduction in rank, one final written warning and one case where no further action was taken.

It showed that accelerated misconduct hearings, which are held where there is a strong case for dismissal, resulted in six officers being sacked.

There were also seven misconduct meetings against police officers where there were breaches that did not warrant a dismissal, data showed.

The report said allegations of misconduct could sometimes lead to a misconduct meeting, with outcomes including a written warning, a final written warning, or learning under the Reflective Practice Review Process.

"Conduct matters are internal matters of alleged breaches of the Standards of Professional Behaviour," it said.

"They do not necessarily involve a member of the public, but they can do."

Gross misconduct was a "more serious affair", it added, which could lead to a more formal misconduct hearing, chaired by the chief constable with a legal adviser.

"However, simply convening a hearing does not mean that guilt has been established," the report said.

"Instead, it's a forum where the evidence is considered and decisions are made based on what it reveals."

• Misconduct hearings are held to present the facts of the case when an employee may have breached the standards of professional behaviour, West Midlands Police said.
• The individual is given an opportunity to provide an explanation of their conduct and the circumstances surrounding the allegation.
• Witnesses may also be called to give evidence before a decision is made.
• More serious allegations of gross misconduct can result in dismissal, while less serious cases of misconduct may result in warnings or learning.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.