PC ‘who smelled of alcohol’ sacked
A MERSEYSIDE Police officer was sacked for turning up to work “smelling of alcohol” and “lethargic” on a shift where she “would have been expected to drive”.
Former PC Laura Bailey was dismissed after a misconduct hearing at Merseyside Police HQ found she breached the standards of professional behaviour around fitness for duty and discreditable conduct, to a level that amounted to gross misconduct.
The panel heard that Bailey had 13 micrograms of alcohol per 100mg of breath in her system when tested, was lethargic and as such “was unfit to perform her duties, not least because she could have been expected to drive during her shift”.
Merseyside Police found there was, however, no suggestion Bailey had got behind the wheel of a car at the point she was challenged.
The panel concluded “being drunk whilst on duty had the propensity to bring the police service into disrepute”.
The decision means Bailey will be added to the College of Policing barred list and is therefore prohibited from holding any policing job in the UK.
Detective Superintendent Cheryl Rhodes, from Merseyside Police’s Professional Standards Department, said: “All our officers and staff know of the high professional standards that are expected of them both on and off duty. We will take immediate action when it is identified that someone does not adhere to those standards or when their fitness to work is in question.
“Our officers are the public face of Merseyside Police and it is vital that our communities feel confident that we will hold officers and staff to account when required. Merseyside Police are unapologetic in taking a zero-tolerance approach to motorists who drink or take drugs and then drive.
“As part our of our annual drink and drug driving campaign, Op Limit, we also carry out spot checks in the mornings. It’s important that people understand that they can be unfit to drive through drink and drugs even if the levels are under the legal limit. These can include prescription drugs that do not have a limit but affect your ability to drive safely.”