Staffordshire Police officer dismissed without notice after allowing person she was banned from contacting into her home

Staffordshire Police announced today (December 30) that former constable Lucy Rowe, based in South Staffordshire, has been relieved of her duties following an 'accelerated' misconduct hearing. 

An investigation, led by the Professional Standards Department, found that Pc Rowe failed to "cease all contact" with a member of the public whom she had been directed not to contact based on concerns of conflict of interest. 

It was also found that Pc Rowe had allowed the member of public to enter her home address, and failed to report the contact with her supervisors as directed. 

The one-day misconduct hearing on December 19 was chaired by Chief Constable Chris Noble and found Pc Rowe had breached the standards relating to honesty and integrity, and breached orders and instructions.

During the hearing, Pc Rowe was said to be "not an inexperienced officer", with the panel pointing out her employment with a number of other police forces previously.

The Chief Constable's report read: "I consider the culpability to be high in this case. Pc Rowe is not an inexperienced officer and has worked in other police forces. I consider her conduct to be intentional and indeed evidenced a laissez-faire approach, with her conduct breaching a Risk Management Plan conducted in full public view.

"There was a very real risk to police information, investigations and potentially public safety, all of which was created by the officer wilfully disobeying a lawful order in relation to contact between Pc Rowe and this individual."

The report also said that as an experienced officer, Pc Rowe "should have been aware of her responsibilities" and that "significant harm" could have come to both police officers and the public as a result of the interactions.

The report read: "Pc Rowe should have been aware of her responsibilities as an officer irrespective of a formal risk management plan being in place. Conversations in 2022 would have made her aware of police concerns.

"This is a significant factor as harm could have come to both police officers and the public as a result. I have considered the fact that there are multiple breaches with regard to the Risk Management Plan and the Standards of Professional Behaviour for Police Officers. 

"It is very clear that in policing, some relationships cannot be created or sustained if officers wish to join and/or remain in policing. PC Rowe had many opportunities to make choices, either to step away from the relationship or policing, but she made neither choice."

The force said that Rowe will now be placed on the national College of Policing's Barred List, preventing her from working in policing and other law enforcement bodies. 

Deputy Chief Constable Jon Roy said: "We expect the highest standards of integrity and conduct from our officers. 

"We continue to make clear the level of conduct required, to make it easier for our officers to report misconduct and to search out and remove those unsuitable to work at Staffordshire Police, and subsequently other forces."