Officers dismissed after filming themselves speeding in seized car
Two officers from Devon and Cornwall Police have been dismissed without notice after filming themselves driving at 89mph in a car they had seized as part of an anti-speeding campaign.
Police Constables Shaun Pearce and Daniel Pike had been working with the ‘No Excuses’ road safety team on January 16, 2019, when they seized the vehicle.
While waiting for the arrival of a recovery vehicle, and without the consent of the car’s owner, PC Pearce drove it for 3.1 miles, at one point reaching a speed of 89mph. The vehicle was returned minutes later to the same position.
PC Pike was a passenger and filmed part of the driving, including the excessive speed. This footage was then shared with other officers via a WhatsApp group. The officers then gave an explanation for the necessity to move the vehicle rather than “it remain in situ” awaiting recovery.
Following a three-day public misconduct hearing last month, the panel concluded that the allegations were proven and that PC Pearce and PC Pike had breached the expected standards of professional behaviour.
The panel determined that the officers would be dismissed without notice and their details will be submitted to the College of Policing Barred List, preventing them from working within policing.
Head of Professional Standards, Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, said: “The behaviour displayed by these officers falls well below what the force and the public expect of a police officer.
“Through their actions, they have undermined the public’s trust and confidence in the police force and taken advantage of the responsibility placed on them in their roles. We will not tolerate such behaviours and therefore dismissal was the right and proper outcome.”
