Driving licence fib lands former Special Sergeant in hot water

Lying about his driving licence on an application form to become a Constable landed a former Special Sergeant in hot water. He would have been dismissed had he not resigned.

Andrew Davies, who was previously based in Lincoln, lied that he held a full UK driving licence when he made an application to join Lincolnshire Police as a Constable whilst serving as a Special Sergeant.

Davies resigned from the force in April 2019 after Lincolnshire Police received information that he had lied on his application form and began an investigation.

A misconduct hearing at Lincolnshire Police Headquarters on Friday, May 31 was told his application had progressed as far as attending an assessment centre.

However, simple checks on the Police National Computer revealed Special Sergeant Davies had only held a provisional driving licence since 2011.

The hearing was told a full UK and EU driving licence was a necessary requirement for the role as a Constable with Lincolnshire Police.

David Ring, representing Lincolnshire Police Authority, said Special Sergeant Davies indicated during his application that he held a full licence and inserted his driver licence number.

The hearing was told Mr Davies had joined the Force as a Special Constable in May 2016 and was promoted to a Special Sergeant in May 2018.

An investigation was begun after the Force received information in February this year that Special Sergeant Davies had lied on an application form to become a Constable with Lincolnshire Police on 2 September, 2018.

This breached standards of professional behaviour relating to honesty and integrity, and discreditable conduct.

Mr Ring told the hearing: “This is a dishonest statement made for personal gain. It has to amount to gross misconduct.”

Special Sergeant Davies admitted what he had done when he was interviewed about the lie and resigned from the Force on April 18, this year.

Mr Davies did not attend the hearing but admitted the allegation through Police Federation representative Phil Clark.

Mr Clark told the hearing: “Mr Davies says his explanation was contained in his interview and he makes no further representations.”

Lincolnshire Chief Constable Bill Skelly said he was satisfied Special Sergeant Davies actions amounted to gross misconduct and ruled they would have resulted in dismissal without notice.

Chief Constable Skelly added that Special Sergeant Davies behaviour was “entirely inconsistent” with his role as a warranted officer.