Off-duty officer who headbutted man at wedding reception dismissed
A police sergeant has been dismissed without notice after a misconduct hearing found he had committed gross misconduct by assaulting a man in an off-duty incident.
Sergeant James Harris, attached to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) North West Command Unit, headbutted a man at a wedding reception in Hitchin on June 30, 2018.
He was charged with one count of actual bodily harm following an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary, however, the prosecution case was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service.
A misconduct hearing held on Thursday (May 11) led by an independent legally qualified chair, found the allegations proven at the level of gross misconduct. Sgt Harris was said to have breached the standards of professional behaviour and was dismissed without notice. He will now be placed on the College of Policing barred list.
Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles, in charge of policing in North West Command Unit, said: “Police officers have to maintain the highest standards of behaviour on, and off, duty and headbutting someone is completely unacceptable.
“We need police officers who are calm and composed and help to de-escalate situations. It is clear that Sgt Harris lost control of himself on this occasion and has now paid the price of losing his job as a police officer.”
In a separate misconduct hearing, a police constable was dismissed without notice after an investigation found he had behaved inappropriately towards two new officers who worked on his team.
PC Alex Campbell, attached to the MPS Central South BCU, sent messages of a “sexual nature” to two probationers between January and July 2021.
On the second occasion, he bought a new ‘burner’ phone to contact one of the victims so he could keep the messages anonymous, causing her further distress, the hearing was told.
Both women told him to stop but he failed to do so.
The officer was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct and respect and courtesy.
Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, in charge of policing for Lambeth and Southwark, said: “The Commissioner has been clear that we must treat our own people fairly and with respect – we know this is critical to rebuilding the trust of Londoners.
“PC Campbell has not lived up to these values and his completely unacceptable behaviour has had a significant impact on those directly affected.
“It is right he has been dismissed from our organisation and will be unable to work in any other form of law enforcement.”