Nearly 600 police officers sacked in a year as shocking figures reveal extent of misconduct crackdown

5 November 2024, 09:36

Nearly 600 police officers sacked in a year amid as shocking figures reveal extent of misconduct crackdown
Nearly 600 police officers sacked in a year amid as shocking figures reveal extent of misconduct crackdown. Picture: Alamy

By Danielle de Wolfe

Nearly 600 police officers were sacked and barred from returning to the force in the year to March 2024, newly released figures have revealed.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The figure marks a record number of misconduct cases brought against serving officers, including recent high profile cases including that of disgraced officer Wayne Couzens.

The numbers saw dismissal rates sky-rocket by a staggering 50 per cent in the last year.

Running from April 2023 to March 2024, the huge rise follows figures of 394 officer dismissals over the previous 12 months.

The figures, released by the College of Policing, shine a light on the crackdown in police misconduct in a bid "clean up" the force in the wake several high-profile dismissals.

Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, during the unveiling of memorial stone dedicated to Sergeant Matt Ratana at Croydon Custody Centre, south London, where the New Zealand born British police officer was shot and killed
Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, during the unveiling of memorial stone dedicated to Sergeant Matt Ratana at Croydon Custody Centre, south London, where the New Zealand born British police officer was shot and killed. Picture: Alamy

Cases recently blighting headlines have included former Met officer Couzens, who kidnapped and murdered Sarah Everard, 33, and former officer David Carrick, who was revealed to be one of the worst serial sex attackers in British history.

The former saw several other officers punished for sharing offensive WhatsApp messages over group chats.

There are currently around 147,000 officers spread across 43 police forces in England and Wales, with the misconduct dismissals amounting to less than 1% of all officers.

Read more: Cigarettes will not be banned in pub gardens under new Labour plan create 'smoke-free generation'

Read more: Desperate Brits fall for scam 'fake NHS dentists' amid years-long waits for appointments

It comes just days after a police officer nominated for a bravery award was barred from the force over sexual impropriety.

Police officers arrest Extinction Rebellion activists who spray-painted the office building of insurance company WTW in the City of London, on the second day of their three-day protest calling on insurance companies to stop insuring fossil fuel projects
Police officers arrest Extinction Rebellion activists who spray-painted the office building of insurance company WTW in the City of London, on the second day of their three-day protest calling on insurance companies to stop insuring fossil fuel projects. Picture: Alamy

Former PC Justin Robbie, who was based in Bristol, was one of the first on the scene of the Twinnell House fire in 2022.

He went on to save two men who were hanging from a top-floor window ledge, however, the officer has now been dismissed without notice from Avon and Somerset Police for gross misconduct.

It follows allegations of inappropriate requests and messages sent to a female colleague.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Tiger Woods broke the news of his relationship with Vanessa Trump

'Life is better with you by my side': Tiger Woods confirms he's dating Donald Trump Jr's ex-wife

Live facial recognition cameras being deployed in south London last year

Met Police gets first permanent facial recognition cameras in London, sparking fears of 'dystopian nightmare'

Christian Brueckner may be charged in the Madeleine McCann case

Madeleine McCann update as police push for charges on prime suspect amid fears he could be freed in days

Rachel Reeves is set to cut tens of thousands of civil service jobs, a union has warned

Reeves 'to slash 50,000 civil service jobs' as she pushes to cut spending by £2 billion per year

5 police officers injured during the intervention unauthorised demonstration in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Huge protests in Turkey as crowds hit by rubber bullets and tear gas after Erdogan arrests main rival

Mother Of Murdered Brianna Ghey Meets Labour Leader Keir Starmer

Mother of murdered teen Brianna Ghey calls for social media ban for under-16s

Steve Stamp, star of mockumentary series People Just Do Nothing.

'Don't cycle home drunk on Lime bikes', British actor warns from hospital

A B&B in Rome was destroyed in explosion, leaving a British man seriously injured.

British tourist 'fighting for his life' with burns to 70% of body after Rome B&B explosion

Gwyneth Paltrow has been accused of mocking Meghan Markle.

Gwyneth Paltrow 'mocks' Meghan Markle with 'Netflix show parody'

A gang of Youths armed with knives stormed a primary school.

'Two hours of utter mayhem' as gang of 'knife-wielding thugs' gatecrash party held in primary school, stabbing two

Flights Resume As Heathrow Re-opens.

Heathrow 'had enough power' amid shutdown despite 'unprecedented' blaze, National Grid boss says

A group of refugees on their inflatable boat.

Migrant avoids deportation after claiming people smuggler threw away his ID and phone

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to media at Rideau Hall

Canadian PM Mark Carney calls snap election as he says Donald Trump 'wants to break us' with trade war

Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson

Fraudulent university loans to be investigated as 'financial scandal', says Bridget Phillipson

John And Yoko At The Hit Factory

The last man to interview John Lennon: Legendary British DJ Andy Peebles dies at 76

The raid led to the arrest of 35 Romanian men and one 16-year-old boy who had been employed by a sub-contractor.

More than 30, including a teenager, arrested by immigration enforcement in Belfast raid