Shropshire Star

Sacked: Drink-drive policewoman caught behind wheel in Shropshire

A police officer has been sacked after being caught more than twice over the legal alcohol limit by her own colleagues while she was off duty in Shropshire.

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PC Sally Downes, of West Mercia Police, was arrested for failing to provide a specimen of breath after officers stopped her vehicle in Coalport.

She was later charged with failing to provide a road side test and driving a motor vehicle when the level of alcohol in her blood was above the prescribed limit.

The legal limit in the UK is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, while Downes was found to contain alcohol at a concentration of 176 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood on May 29.

She appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates Court last month where she pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level in her blood was above the prescribed limit, and was subsequently disqualified from driving for 17 months and fined £405.

Downes faced a Special Case Hearing yesterday, chaired by Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, and was dismissed without notice.

Detective Superintendant Gary Watson, head of professional standards for Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police, said: "We expect the highest levels of behaviour of all our officers and staff. Sally Downes has faced an internal disciplinary process and has been dismissed."

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