Officer dismissed following misconduct hearing

A serving officer has been dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing.

PC Gary Stevens, attached to Specialist Operations, was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour with regard to honesty and integrity, and duties and responsibilities.

The hearing, which concluded on Friday, 10 May, found that PC Stevens had failed to properly secure and/or store and/or retain cannabis seized during a stop and search carried out on 13 April 2022. PC Stevens also failed to properly complete a stop and search form and update other Met crime recording databases.

In relation to the same stop and search, PC Stevens was also found to have improperly accessed the record and alter references to him carrying out the search, that cannabis was found and the matter dealt with by way of community resolution.

Chief Superintendent Kris Wright, Specialist Operations, said: “As police officers we rightfully come under significant scrutiny about our use of stop and search. Trust is non-negotiable and without it police officers cannot carry out their duties effectively.

“I am under no illusion that PC Stevens’ dishonesty will have a detrimental impact on the trust of the public, something as an organisation we are working hard to build with communities when it comes to stop and search, and our wider policing activity.”

He will now 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.