Former police officer found to have committed gross misconduct

A MISCONDUCT hearing has found a former police officer would have been dismissed had he not already resigned from the force.

The hearing heard ex-PC 81269 Adam Edwards was found to have tested positive for non-prescribed performance enhancing drugs following a with-cause drugs test.

The test, taken on 21st May this year, and returned a positive result for Clenbuterol, indicating he had taken a substance contrary to the Essex Police substance misuse policy, C 3012 Substance Misuse in the Workplace (Drugs and Alcohol).

The investigation was led by our Counter Corruption Unit and the allegations were heard at an accelerated hearing chaired by Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington on Thursday 21st August.

The Chair found all the allegations proven and that ex-PC Edwards had breached the professional standards of behaviour relating to:

• Fitness for Duty,
• Orders & Instructions
• Discreditable Conduct
  
• He would have been dismissed from the force had he not already resigned. Ex-PC 81269 Adam Edwards will now be placed on the College of Policing barred list.
  
• Chief Constable Harrington said: “Police officers who take drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor, or unlawful, have no place in policing.
  “I cannot stress enough that taking any kind of illegal substance for whatever reason other than under the direction and prescription of a medical practitioner is incompatible with being a police officer.”
  
• “The actions of Adam Edwards undermine public trust and confidence in us all. I hope this outcome demonstrates to the public that we seek the highest standards and that it serves as a deterrent to anyone in Essex Police who seeks to use illegal drugs for whatever reason.”