Misconduct proven against former MPS officer
A former Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer who failed to stop at the scene of a crash which left a pedestrian injured would have been dismissed without notice had he still been serving, a misconduct hearing has decided.
The hearing took place for former Police Constable David Niven, attached to the North West Command Unit, on Thursday, April 7.
Niven faced allegations that his conduct amounted to a breach of the standards of professional behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct.
He previously appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court last October where he pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of an accident and driving a vehicle without consideration to other users.
The charges related to an incident on February 25, 2021, when Niven – who was off duty – was driving along High Road, Finchley. His car struck a pedestrian who was crossing the carriageway but he failed to stop at the scene.
The man was taken by ambulance to a North London hospital but his condition was not found to be life-threatening.
Niven attended a police station and was arrested the day after the incident. He was fined £445 and received eight penalty points on his driving licence. Niven resigned from the MPS on March 28, 2021.
Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball, chair of the misconduct hearing, decided that Niven’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and that, had he still been serving, he would have been dismissed.
