Gross misconduct proven against former officer

A former police officer would have been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police after a misconduct hearing found she lied to colleagues after becoming involved in an altercation in a pub in Clapham.

Alison Campbell – a former Detective Constable based on the Central North Command Unit – was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of ‘discreditable conduct’; ‘honesty and integrity’ and ‘authority, respect and diversity’.

The hearing concluded that had she still been a serving officer, former DC Campbell would have been dismissed without notice.

Evidence was presented that former DC Campbell was off duty when she became involved in an altercation with two members of the public in a pub in Clapham in the early hours of 25 July 2021. Following this altercation she contacted police and claimed she had identified herself as a police officer after a victim of domestic violence had come forward to her and then been surrounded by up to 50 people acting aggressively – this was found to be untrue.

The hearing concluded on Thursday, 14 March; Campbell resigned from the Met on Tuesday, 12 March – the day before the hearing began.

Superintendent Jack Rowlands, who leads policing for Camden and Islington, said:

“The actions of former DC Campbell are shocking and have no place in the Metropolitan Police. After becoming involved in an altercation she attempted to extricate herself from the situation by lying to colleagues. It is right that she would have been dismissed from the Met had she remained a serving officer. I hope this outcome sends a clear message to Londoners that we remain committed to ensuring those who are not fit to police are removed from the organisation.”

Campbell will be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.