Officer lied about period pain so she could go into work late

MISCONDUCT HEARING RULES SHE WOULD BE SACKED IF SHE HADN’T ALREADY LEFT FORCE

A LEICESTERSHIRE Police officer lied to her boss about struggling with period pains so she could go into work late, a misconduct hearing has found.

Pc Rebecca Reeves, who covered the Melton area but has since left the force, sent a message to her sergeant claiming she was unwell after menstrual cramps disrupted her sleep the previous night, and asked to come in after a GP appointment.

However, Ms Reeves was actually in Preston – three hours away – after staying there overnight, and messaged a fellow officer saying she had not woken up in time to travel back for her shift.

She also shared concerns with the officer that she would be criticised for being late, and indicated she was considering coming up with a family emergency to avoid criticism.

After heading back to Leicestershire, she was contacted again by her sergeant asking if she was at home or had attended the force’s headquarters in Enderby, and she lied again, saying she was at home and waiting to visit her GP.

Ms Reeves later said she was awaiting a call from her GP to prescribe medication for period pain, and later received anti-sickness tablets and painkillers.

Ms Reeves eventually arrived at force HQ to report for duty at around 12.30pm, four-and-a-half hours after her intended start time of 8am.

The misconduct hearing also heard that Ms Reeves had been issued with a support plan due to the number of absences through sickness over the course of her student probation, with it being initially extended by three months.

Chief Constable Rob Nixon, who was chairing the meeting at Leicestershire Police’s headquarters, said that former Pc Reeves’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, and that she would have been dismissed without notice if she was still a member of the force.

Mr Nixon said: “The actions of former Pc Reeves fell well below the standards which are expected of police officers and amounted to gross misconduct.”

“Former Pc Reeves acknowledged this, and apologised for her conduct.

“It was determined that had the former officer still been serving in force, she would have been dismissed without notice.

“Building and maintaining trust and confidence in our force remains a priority.

“We continue to challenge any unacceptable behaviour which does not meet the professional standards expected.”