Thames Valley Police: Newbury officer who tested positive for cannabis 'guilty of gross misconduct'

A NEWBURY police officer who tested positive for cannabis on duty has been found guilty of gross misconduct and permanently disbarred.

Had Pc Chris Howarth not resigned ahead of a disciplinary hearing today, Friday, September 3, he would have been summarily dismissed, said Thames Valley Police Chief Constable John Campbell, presiding.

Det Con Joshua Pitts, the investigating officer, told the hearing that former Pc Howarth had joined Thames Valley Police on June 1 last year.

He said that, following "information received" that the officer was abusing drugs, permission was gained to have him tested.

Det Con Pitts added: "On July 22 former Pc Howarth was on duty at Newbury...he was required to provide a urine sample for preliminary testing."

This was subsequently laboratory analysed and showed the officer had "more than double the minimum level required for a positive result" of cannabis metabolites in his system.

He resigned days later.

Det Con Pitts suggested that his former colleague had breached Thames Valley Police's standards in respect of discreditable conduct and fitness to work and said: "Public confidence in the police is crucial is system that relies on policing by consent. A breach of these high standards may damage confidence in the police service."

He invited the chief constable to make a finding of gross misconduct in former Pc Howarth's case.

Mr Howarth did not attend the hearing but a statement from him was read into the record by a Police Federation representative, Aileen O'Connor.

She said the former officer accepted his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.

Ms O'Connor added that he further accepted that, "while socialising with friends" he had smoked a tobacco roll-up before being passed another, hand rolled 'cigarette.'

She went on: "He took two puffs and knew it was different from a usual cigarette. He continued to smoke it, knowing it contained a controlled substance. He is fully aware of what he should have done...he deeply regrets his actions."

Chief Constable Campbell said the matter was straightforward and the facts were not in dispute.

He added: "The facts, for me, are proven on the balance of probabilities...given all the salient facts it is obviously gross misconduct."

Det Con Pitts then advised that the former officer's behaviour constituted such a serious breach of professional standards and had "brought such discredit" to the police service that his name should be placed on the barred list, designed to ensure he will be unable to apply for a future job as a police officer.

Ms O'Connor told the chief constable: "(Mr Howarth) wholeheartedly accepts his conduct fell below the standards of a police officer, and the serious nature of the consequences had he still been serving.

"The only option available to you is dismissal, had he not resigned from the force. He is aware that is the most likely outcome of these proceedings."

Chief Constable Campbell said his findings of gross misconduct in respect of the former Pc Howarth were "clearly incompatible" with him being allowed to serve in future.

He added: "As such, I have no hesitation in finding that, if he had been serving still, he would have been dismissed without notice."

Mr Howarth was placed on the national police barred list.