Shropshire PCSO is sacked for gross misconduct

The West Mercia Police CSO, who has not been named by the force, has been dismissed with immediate effect.

A misconduct hearing was held on April 21 and conducted by Assistant Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman.

It follows an investigation by the professional standards department after an allegation of discreditable conduct was made against the police community support officer which related to a personal relationship.

Detective Superintendent Gary Watson, head of professional standards for Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police, said: "The misconduct hearing found that the behaviour of the police community support officer fell below the standards we expect from our officers and staff and amounted to a breach of the standards of professional behaviour.

"This fell outside the expectations made clear in the code of ethics and our joint values and amounted to gross misconduct, and it is for this reason that the PCSO was dismissed."

The PCSO had completed six years of service with West Mercia Police.

Following the allegation being made, the PCSO was immediately suspended from duties within the Safer Neighbourhood Team where they worked in Shropshire and a thorough investigation was launched.

The outcome of the hearing is subject to the normal appeals process. Outcomes of misconduct proceedings are published quarterly on the force's website at westmercia.police.uk

Community support officers spend time patrolling streets and acting as the "eyes and ears of an area", according to West Mercia Police's website.

They also deal with minor offences, offer early interventions to deter people from committing offences, provide crime prevention advice, gather evidence through observation, and conduct house-house inquiries.