AN Avon and Somerset police officer has been told he would have been sacked for gross misconduct if he hadn't already resigned.

A misconduct hearing was told that PC David Buckley:

  • entered into an inappropriate relationship in 2014 with a colleague, whom he subjected to controlling, coercive and threatening behaviour;
  • conducted a further inappropriate relationship with a female victim of crime, whom he met in the line of duty in 2017;
  • addressed a colleague using racist language in January 2020.

Allegations of gross misconduct against Buckley were proven following the hearing at police HQ on Monday and Tuesday (December 6 and 7).

Allegations of breaches of standards of honesty and integrity; duties and responsibilities; equality and diversity; authority, respect and courtesy; and discreditable conduct upheld at the hearing.

The panel ruled that the former constable would have been dismissed had he not already retired from the force.

Avon and Somerset Police's head of professional standards Supt Jane Wigmore said: “The public rightly expects police officers to uphold the highest standards of behaviour and integrity and where these standards are not met, a thorough investigation will always be carried out.

“Our investigation into allegations made against PC Buckley resulted in a gross misconduct hearing held in public in front of a panel.

"This panel is always led by a legally qualified chair, who is independent from policing.

“The panel found that PC Buckley repeatedly abused his trusted position and behaved unacceptably both towards his colleagues and a member of the public.

“This conduct has no place in policing and I welcome the decision to dismiss him with immediate effect.”

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