A FORMER Essex Police officer has been found to have committed gross misconduct following an accelerated misconduct hearing on Thursday 30 April 2026.
Former PC Raja Moiz faced allegations relating to breaches of the Standards of Professional Behaviour concerning orders and instructions, duties and responsibilities, and discreditable conduct, following repeated instances of unjustified and excessive speeding while driving police vehicles between April and September 2025.
The hearing heard that the former officer, who held only a basic driving permit, repeatedly drove marked and unmarked Essex Police vehicles at extreme speeds without lawful authority or operational justification. Telematics analysis identified at least 269 speeding infractions across 187 police journeys, with around 40% of all journeys involving speeding, often with multiple breaches during the same trip.
The accelerated misconduct hearing was chaired by Chief Constable Ben Julian Harrington, who found all allegations proven. The panel determined that, had the officer still been serving, he would have been dismissed without notice.
Speaking after the hearing, Chief Constable Ben Julian Harrington said:
“This was dangerous, unjustified driving, repeated over time, with no mitigation whatsoever. Some of the speeds and manner of driving evidenced in this case would not be acceptable for a driver holding any level of police driving permit.
“Police officers who hold only a basic driving permit are expected to comply fully with the Highway Code and force driving policy at all times. They are required to make careful, proportionate assessments of risk on every journey, with the safety of the public and other road users paramount.
“To repeatedly disregard those principles, without lawful authority or necessity, is wholly unacceptable. It undermines public trust, puts people at risk, and lets down the many officers who carry out their duties responsibly every day.
“Driving at nearly twice the speed limit in a residential area, while accelerating past a pre school in the middle of the afternoon, is wholly unacceptable and presents an obvious and serious risk.”
