Anti-terror detectives are sacked for skiving
TWO counter-terrorism detectives have been sacked for skiving on nightshifts at Manchester Airport.
Jason Coman and Jennifer Gold’s duties included checking airline passenger lists and stopping suspects.
But their bosses learnt the former constables were spending ‘extended periods of time’ in their office in a terminal building.
An internal investigation was launched which found the pair had provided ‘inaccurate and misleading’ information about their work during four nightshifts in July 2016.
Now the pair, who were both detectives in the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, have been dismissed for gross misconduct, the M.E.N. has learned.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson told the M.E.N. their behaviour was ‘totally unacceptable.’
They had been working on ‘ports duty’ at Manchester Airport, which entails checking airline passenger manifests and stopping any suspects.
The pair appeared before a secret five-day disciplinary hearing – which are normally open to the public.
The chairman of the judging panel ruled the use of counter-terrorism tactics was so sensitive that the hearing should be held in private.
However, the result of the hearing has been made public.
A GMP spokesperson said: “Constable Jason Coman and Constable Jennifer Gold appeared before a panel on Thursday, December 18, 2017, to answer allegations of failing to leave their office for extended periods of time and giving information which was inaccurate and misleading whilst on ports duty at Manchester Airport.
“An investigation was launched by GMP’s professional standards branch and, at the conclusion of this, the case was brought to a gross misconduct hearing.
“The panel was independently chaired and the chair ruled that the hearing would be held in private to prevent counter terrorism tactics being revealed.
“At the conclusion of the hearing, the panel found the officers had breached the standards of professional behaviour and that their actions amounted to gross misconduct.
“Both were dismissed from the force without notice.
“GMP considered the actions of the officers to be totally unacceptable which is why the force sought the highest sanction from the panel.”
The officers have declined to comment.