A WORCESTER police officer has been handed a written warning following a public misconduct hearing.
PS Peter Nightingale, a West Mercia Police officer based in Worcester and PC Ben Trowman, a Warwickshire officer based until recently in Evesham were accused of failing to take a vulnerable man to an appropriate place of safety.
And following an investigation by the Professional Standards Department (PSD) of Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police, public misconduct proceedings were brought against them.
The hearing was conducted on Friday at Leek Wootton in Warwickshire by Steven Evans, an independent, legally qualified chair.
The Panel found that both officers had breached the standards of professional behaviour expected of them.
Chief Insp Rebecca Love, of the Professional Standards Department for Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police, 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.
“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.”
