The Hampshire Constabulary police officers dismissed from the force

Data from the Home Office revealed 11 officers have been dismissed from the force since April 2017.

However, the Daily Echo can reveal the names of 18 individuals who were dismissed by Hampshire Constabulary, ranging from sergeants to inspectors.

The reasons for the dismissals range from drug driving, sending inappropriate photographs to women, using homophobic language, and failing to challenge sexist remarks, among many more.

Inappropriate photographs and language

Harry Betts - Constable

• Sent inappropriate photographs of himself to a female recipient who knew he was a police officer.
• Sent inappropriate messages and images to others using his mobile phone and failed to challenge or report the improper conduct of colleagues about the nature of their messages.

Betts was dismissed on July 31, 2018. 

James Oldfield - Constable

• This officer was covertly recorded making and/or failing to challenge racist, sexist and homophobic remarks.

He was dismissed on January 8, 2021. 

Craig Bannerman - Constable

• He was covertly recorded making and/or failing to challenge racist, sexist and homophobic remarks.

The force dismissed Bannerman on January 8, 2021. 

Timothy Ireson - Inspector

Timothy Ireson. Photo: Credit Solent News and Photo Agency

• Ireson failed to set appropriate standards for the team he supervised who were covertly recorded using sexist, racist and homophobic language.

He was therefore dismissed on January 8, 2021. 

Gregory Willcox - Sergeant

This officer failed to set appropriate standards for the team he supervised who were covertly recorded using sexist, racist and homophobic language and joined in some similar conversations.

Wilcox was dismissed by the force on January 8, 2021. 

Tom Haye - Inspector

• Chief Special Officer Haye was dismissed following a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour in the strand of Authority, Respect and Courtesy for using discriminatory language in an off-duty text conversation.

Haye was dismissed on February 3, 2021. 

Oliver Lage - Sergeant

• Lage was covertly recorded making and/or failing to challenge racist and sexist remarks.

This led to his dismissal on January 8, 2021. 

Using police information systems

Harry Betts - Constable

• Took photographs of sensitive information and forwarded one of the photographs to another employee of Hampshire Constabulary without there being an operational need to do so.
• Discussed operational police matters with another employee of Hampshire Constabulary with no policing purpose.
• Accessed a Hampshire Constabulary computer system without there being any operational need or policing purpose. 

Betts was dismissed on July 31, 2018. 

READ MORE: Arrest as armed police called to man with samurai sword in Southampton

Jamie Campbell - Constable

• This case related to multiple incidents of misuse of police force systems between November 2011 and May 2020.

Former SC Campbell admitted accessing others' personal data out of curiosity.

There was no suggestion he shared or in any way profited from accessing the information.

Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney found the breach proven as there was no policing purpose for accessing the data.

Campbell would have been dismissed without notice had he not already resigned from the force, leaving on April 22, 2021. 

Committing a criminal offence

Ian Douglas-Todd - Sergeant

• Driving a motor vehicle whilst over the prescribed limit, resulting in his dismissal on September 21 2021. 

Lee Sewell - Constable

• Off duty road rage incident, convicted of assault.

Sewell was dismissed on April 2, 2019. 

Ben Jevons - Constable

• On July 6, 2019 Jevons was stopped by a traffic officer in Hayling Island after exiting the Yew Tree public house.

He consented to having a drug wipe test which was positive for cocaine.

He was arrested and when in custody provided a sample of blood for analysis.

READ NEXT: Two men arrested after spate of 'distressing' indecent exposures

On July 24 2019, Hampshire Police were notified that the sample was positive for cocaine.

Jevons then appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on August 8, 2019 where he pleaded to drug driving and his sentence was disqualified from driving for 12 months and £80 fine.

He was dismissed from the force on October 13 2020.

Andrew Sollars - Constable

Sollars was dismissed on January 15, 2021 as he had been found guilty of committing a criminal offence.

'Shining a light will remove unacceptable behaviours'

In light of these dismissals, police and crime commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones said the public “has a right” to expect the highest standards of conduct from police officers.

PCC Donna Jones

She said: “They are trusted servants of the crown.

"It is absolutely right that when police officers do not meet the standards of behaviour expected of them, they risk losing their job.

“Recent events have led to forces reviewing behaviours and cultures whilst encouraging staff to report any concerns they may have about colleagues.

“Shining a light will lead help to remove unacceptable behaviours that fall below those expected from British policing.

"This is a good thing.”

Other issues leading to dismissals

James Street - Constable

• Operational dishonesty by theft of monies from exhibits. He was dismissed on March 15, 2018.

Daniel Neligan - Constable

• Falsified signatures on official police documentation. Neligan was dismissed on May 1, 2018. 

Olivia Lucas - Constable

• The former officer falsely claimed to be suffering from a medical condition over a period of time resulting in time off being granted.

Lucas also created several forged documents which were used to create animosity within a relationship to the detriment of those within it.

As a result, she was dismissed on March 2, 2021. 

Thomas Welling - Constable

• Misuse of warrant card in nightclub whilst off duty, homophobic language towards staff at the club.

He was dismissed on June 26, 2019. 

Clare Proudfoot - Constable

• The officer claimed to have visited a victim of crime as instructed by her sergeant when she had not.

She then used the force's computer system to indicate she did in fact visited the victim when she had not. 

Proudfoot was dismissed on July 10, 2020. 

James Oldfield - Constable

• He attended work whilst unfit due to alcohol consumption the previous evening.

Oldfield was dismissed on January 8, 2021. 

Jonathan Finch - Constable

PC Finch breached the standards of behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity, discreditable conduct, and honesty and integrity, thus amounting to gross misconduct.

This led to his dismissal on February 23, 2021. 

Timothy Ireson - Inspector

• He also failed to deal with an officer who was unfit due to alcohol consumption the previous evening.

Ireson was dismissed on January 8, 2021. 

'Robust' measures in place

According to the 2017 regulations, when an officer is dismissed their name must be placed on the College of Policing’s barred list, which can be found online.

The list is supposed to be public in the name of transparency, but currently, members of the public can only find someone on the list if they already know the name of the officer.

On the other side of the coin is the education, medical and legal professions, all of which publish publicly available notices when someone within the profession is barred.

This also includes their names.

According to Hampshire Constabulary, the force has “robust” measures in place to deal with misconduct.

READ MORE: Armed police called to more Hampshire operations than in previous year

A spokesperson said: “We are absolutely clear that all officers and staff must adhere to the standards of behaviour expected of them due to their positions within society and we are proactive in taking action against those who fall below those standards.

“It is important to understand that the complaints process is much broader than just misconduct, and sometimes incidents require different outcomes to be taken, for example whether improvements should be made and implementing any learning or recommendations identified.

“Police misconduct processes are clearly set out in the Police Conduct Regulations which all forces use when considering cases of misconduct.

“The regulations were updated in 2020, which is also when the IOPC statutory guidance was introduced.”

READ NEXT: Police officers 'struggling to put food on table' despite pay rise of almost £2,000

PCC Donna Jones added she is committed to ensuring misconduct cases are held in public, where legally possible, to make the process fair, open and transparent.

She added: “I am also ensuring the Police Conduct Regulations, which all forces use when considering cases of misconduct, are clearly followed.

“Maintaining public trust and confidence is key which is why this is so important.

“The majority of police officers are dedicated individuals who want to serve and protect the public and in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.”

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News