Crumbs! PC accused of taking the biscuits

A PC was hauled before a disciplinary hearing yesterday accused of stealing a tin of biscuits nearly two years ago.

Thomas Hooper helped himself to the tin he found in a storage cupboard. A theft investigation turned into a full Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) disciplinary inquiry, even though he had offered to share the biscuits and buy a replacement.

Panel chairman Naheed Asjad expressed astonishment at the case. She said the public would be concerned that a complaint about some biscuits in May 2016 had led to an investigation by Scotland yard officers and a full police misconduct hearing.

Charles Apthorp, for the Metropolitan Police, told the hearing in London that PC Hooper’s actions amounted to a breach of professional standards as he allegedly gave a false account of taking the tin, which contained two layers of biscuits.

‘It is not the value of what was taken, it is what was done,’ he said. ‘It shows clear evidence of misappropriation of property. The officer was aware it belonged to someone else and the officer has taken it.’

PC Hooper had shown a ‘fundamental lack of integrity’, he added.

Miss Asjad asked Sarah Blake, an inspector at the time, why she reported the case. ‘you have a sergeant and an inspector and a box of biscuits that have gone missing and the only thing you can come up with is to refer the matter to DPS?,’ she asked.

Miss Blake replied that it was ‘because of the gravity of the incident’. When Miss Asjad pointed out that he offered to replace the biscuits, Miss Blake said: ‘By that time the biscuits had been eaten and, in my mind, theft is theft. How was he going to put the biscuits back?’

PC Hooper, based at Kingston operational Command Unit in South West London, is also accused of lying about a speeding ticket after he was caught on duty driving at 51mph in a 30mph zone in 2016.

He is accused of giving a false account of the incident when he applied for the fixed penalty to be cancelled.

PC Hooper denies two allegations of breaching standards of professional behaviour. The hearing continues.