Merseyside Police faces scrutiny as eight officers are dismissed for misconduct, raising concerns about public trust and accountability.
St Helens: It’s been a tough time for the Merseyside Police lately. Eight officers have been let go for serious misconduct, and it’s making waves in the community. The ECHO has been on top of this, covering various misconduct hearings at police HQ.
One officer, PC Alex Kean, was once hailed a hero for saving a man but ended up on this list after a violent incident at a takeaway. It’s wild how quickly things can change, right?
Every week, the ECHO reports on cases in the local courts, highlighting the hard work of police officers who put away some pretty nasty criminals. But it’s also crucial to hold the officers accountable when they step out of line. They’re supposed to uphold the law, not break it.
This year, there have been several misconduct hearings where officers faced serious allegations. Chief Constable Serena Kennedy has been vocal about the need for public trust in the police. She believes the community deserves to know that their officers are following the law, just like everyone else.
Not every officer on the list broke the law, but their actions were still deemed gross misconduct. Some were fired, others resigned before facing the music, and a few got final warnings. Many are now on the barred list, meaning they can’t work in policing again.
Take Sgt Steven Smith, for example. He tried to retrieve a friend’s bag of cocaine while on a stag do. He claimed he was just testing the door staff, but it didn’t fly. He resigned just before his hearing, which found him guilty of gross misconduct.
Then there’s PC Alexander Kean, who went from hero to zero after a drunken assault at a takeaway. He was dismissed without notice and is now barred from being an officer again. It’s a real fall from grace.
PC Ellie Butlin was caught on CCTV inhaling balloons while her ex-girlfriend was allegedly using cocaine. She didn’t report it, and that got her in serious trouble. She resigned before the hearing, but it was clear her actions were unacceptable.
PC Ryan Bate kicked a member of the public during a heated exchange. He got a final written warning, but it’s still concerning behavior for someone in his position.
PC Kevin Courtney used a derogatory term while on duty, which led to a misconduct hearing. He retired after the incident, but it raised eyebrows about the kind of language used by officers.
PC Brigitta Pal tried to get CCTV footage from Asda after a crash involving a family member. She didn’t disclose her connection, which was a big no-no. She was dismissed without notice for her dishonesty.
PC Paul Ledwith faced serious charges for sexual assault and misconduct. He was found guilty and would have been dismissed if he hadn’t already left the force.
Lastly, PC Idris Saroke crashed his car while drunk and tried to blame someone else. He resigned before facing the music, but his actions were a clear breach of trust.
It’s a tough situation for the community, and it’s clear that trust in the police is crucial. These incidents show that accountability is key, and the public deserves to know that their officers are held to high standards.
