Former officer guilty of gross misconduct after admitting drink-driving
A former Dorset Police superintendent who admitted drink-driving has been found guilty of gross misconduct and would have been dismissed had he not already resigned.
Former Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell had pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates’ Court last month to driving while over the prescribed legal alcohol limit.
He resigned from the force following the court hearing.
The charge related to an incident on the A352 in Wool at around 4pm on Sunday August 4 this year. Former Det Supt Kessell was stopped and breathalysed at the scene.
He gave a breath test and was found to have 115mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
Former Det Supt Kessell is due to be sentenced for the drink-drive offence at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on November 5.
Dorset Police said the officer was not on duty at the time of the incident and was suspended from duty pending the outcome of court and misconduct proceedings.
An accelerated misconduct found former Det Supt Kessell had breached the appropriate standards of behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct and would have been dismissed from the force for gross misconduct had he not already resigned. He was also placed on the police barred list.
Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said: “Whether on or off duty, we always expect our police officers and staff to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
“When an officer or staff member is found to have fallen below these standards, we will ensure swift action is taken and they are held to account for their behaviour.
“We fully recognise the devastating consequences that can arise from people driving while under the influence of alcohol and remain committed to identifying and taking action against anyone who is found to be intoxicated while driving.”