A CID officer who was jailed after using her job to try and “disappear” a speeding offence for her partner was today (Wed) found to be guilty of gross misconduct.
Detective Constable Clare Brown, 35, who was based at Louth, attempted to use her status as an officer with Lincolnshire Police to get rid of the speeding report, a misconduct hearing was told.
Brown, who served in the Met Police before transferring to Lincolnshire Police, has already resigned from the force.
She was jailed for four months at Nottingham Crown Court in August after she admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Today Chief Constable Bill Skelly ruled at a special case hearing that Brown’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct and she would have been dismissed if she had not resigned.
Mr Skelly said: “The former officer would have been dismissed if she had not resigned.
“I am determined that Lincolnshire Police officers will behave on and off duty in a manner that is lawful, promotes confidence and does not bring discredit on our force.
“I find that what the former officer did was wholly inconsistent with the role of a warranted officer.”
He ruled that she breached standards of professional behaviour regarding honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct.
The decision means she is placed on a barring list preventing her from reapplying to become a police officer.
Gemma Webster, for Lincolnshire Police, told the hearing that the incident arose after Brown’s partner was caught driving the couple’s car at 48 mph in a 30 mph zone in the town of Wragby on January 6.
Mrs Webster said that Brown, who was a passenger in the vehicle, spoke to the PCSO who stopped the car.
“She repeatedly said ‘Its not going to help if I’m in the job is it?'”
The PCSO told Brown that it would not help, adding: “Let’s not go there.”
Later the same day Det Con Brown Facebook messaged an inspector criticising the PCSO and adding “It’s a different breed these days.”
Then in the early hours she messaged another officer saying “Could you do me a massive favour?
“If you could lose that bloody report I’d be eternally grateful.”
Mrs Webster said “It was undoubtedly an abuse of her position.”
The matter was referred to the Police Professional Standards department and following a criminal investigation she appeared at Nottingham Crown Court in August and pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Brown did not attend today’s hearing but in a written submission admitted the allegations.
Sgt Lee Willoughby, of the Police Federation, who represented Brown at the hearing said “She accepts the allegation. She asks for no submission of mitigation.”
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Police are investigating an unexplained death in the Waddingham village area near Gainsborough and Hemswell Cliff.
Emergency services were called to a house in Clay Lane, Waddingham just before 6:30pm on Thursday (30 June) following reports of a female being injured in the property.
Upon arrival, a woman believed to be in her 60s, was found injured and confirmed deceased at the property.
Her death is currently being treated as unexplained and investigations are ongoing.
We are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a fail to stop in Welton, Lincoln.
It’s believed a black or grey 4×4 or SUV vehicle collided with a silver Mini Cooper that was parked along Cliff Road. The incident was reported just after 3pm today.
If you witnessed the collision or have dashcam footage available, please get in touch.
By calling 101 quoting incident 275 of 1st July.
By emailing [email protected] quoting incident 275 of 1st July in the subject line.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.