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“The officer was Head Coach at Barton and District Rugby Club since 2017. More recently, he became Club President. The officer never submitted a Business Interest application regarding either role. This is contrary to the Section 8 of the Police Regulations 2003 and force policy which state a police officer shall immediately give written notice of a business interest to the chief officer if that officer has or proposes to have a business interest which has not previously been disclosed.

“On 3rd June 2022, the officer was off duty and were attending a public music event in Barrow Upon Humber at which the officer was volunteering as an event organiser. A security guard, approached the officer and informed him that he suspected that he had seen a male taking cocaine. The officer informed the security guard that he is a police officer. The officer and the security guard approached the male. In the officers’ presence, the security guard informed the male that he suspected that he had been taking drugs. The male admitted that he had been using cocaine and that he had some in his possession. He then surrendered a bag of white powder to the security guard. The officer took possession of bag containing white powder. The officer suspected that the bag contained a controlled drug. The officer went on to dispose of this, against the advice of another police officer, without recording his actions or taking any further action against the male who had been in possession of it.

“Having disposed of the bag, which the officer suspected to contain a controlled drug, he spoke to the security guard who had initially approached the officer. The officer said to him “I hope you didn’t tell them about the drugs you gave me to look after….I don’t want me or my name mentioning or knowing about it, I’ll deal with it myself”. The officers’ intention was to dissuade the security guard from telling other police officers that he had taken possession of the package of suspected drugs and to encourage him to be dishonest if asked about that.

“On 3rd June 2022, whilst off duty and attending a public music event in Barrow Upon Humber, the officer was informed by security staff of a male who was in drink and making a nuisance of himself, annoying people, exposing himself and touching young girls. Having been informed of this, the officer failed to take any action and instead told security staff to let people enjoy themselves.

“On 30th September 2022, when being interviewed in respect of gross misconduct allegations, the officer stated that he made a telephone call to a witness in those gross misconduct allegations in order to seek the consent of the witness to pass on his personal details to the investigating officer, that this call lasted seconds and was made following advice from his then Federation Representative when he knew this was not true.

“The officer knew the call to the witness lasted much longer than only seconds, the officer knew the conversation with the witness went beyond seeking his consent to pass on his personal details and he knew his then Federation Representative had told him not to contact any witnesses.”

The hearing will open at 10am on Monday 8th January, 2024 and will be held in public at The Old Magistrates Building, Estcourt Terrace, Goole, DN14 5AB.

The length of the hearing strongly implies that DC Blackie will deny the allegations and be legally represented. The force has not given the name of the Legally Qualified Chair or the names of the other two Panel members.

If the allegations, which amount to gross misconduct, are proven one of the sanctions available to the Panel is dismissal without notice.

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Page last updated: Friday 5th January, 2023 at 0645 hours

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