New Met police video

[Fedster + 1,307]

DC was hiding near the crash scene by an off-duty colleague.

Date - 12th May 2020
By - Police Oracle 

A GMP detective with 16 years’ service who left the scene of an accident and failed a breathalyser after being found by a colleague has been dismissed without notice despite pleading to keep his job.

Detective Constable Matthew Smith, described as an "exemplary officer" by colleagues was twice the drink-drive limit when he drove after a drinking session with friends.

His car hit a "glancing" blow to a vehicle driven by a member of the public as it left the motorway in Bury, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of September 8, last year.

He then left the scene and when an off-duty officer came across the accident he found his colleague hiding.

The details were given at a Special Case Gross Misconduct Hearing, chaired by the Chief Constable of GMP Ian Hopkins and held via video conference, to determine if the officer should keep his job.

DC Smith failed a breath test at the roadside, giving a reading of 78 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the hearing was told. 

The officer, a single parent and father-of-two, subsequently admitted drink-driving at Liverpool Magistrates' Court last October and was banned from the roads for 18 months and fined £700.

Gareth Madgwick, a solicitor for GMP, told the hearing, the force would be justified in his dismissal as the officer had been convicted of a criminal offence.

Mr Madgwick said the public expect the "highest standards" from officers and the crash could have been "extremely serious".

DC Smith admitted his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct and a breach of the police's own professional standards rules.

A series of glowing testimonials from fellow officers described DC Smith as a hard-working, conscientious and dedicated "exemplary" officer.

The officer, who had served with GMP for 16 years and was with Salford CID at the time of the incident, apologised for his actions and pleaded to keep his job.

He added: "I love my job. It does mean everything to me. I need this job sir."

Katy Appleton, representing the officer, asked Mr Hopkins to, "take the exceptional course" in these circumstances and issue a final written warning.

But after a brief adjournment the chief constable returned and rejected the lawyer's appeal.

Mr Hopkins told the officer: "I have no doubt you are a talented police officer and passionate about tackling crime and supporting victims.

"I have to weigh that up against the serious nature of the offence and the risk to the public that your actions posed on that night.

"I'm therefore sorry to tell you that my decision is that you should be dismissed without notice."

Part of the hearing was not made public while personal and medical details were discussed.

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[Zulu 22 + 4,642]

In the GMP it was an almost "shoe in" if you did anything to thwart a case of Drinking over the limit if you were in anyway obstructive.  Had he not fled the scene then, he might have kept his job.  What did surprise me was that he was dealt with at Court in October with a fine and disqualification and yet, it has taken over 6 months to hold the disciplinary.

It is always sad, however, to see an officer lose his job in this fashion.

[pcmode 40]

13 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

It is always sad, however, to see an officer lose his job in this fashion.

I can't say i'm sad by the outcome, and on the basis of the information given it's more than justified, even if he wasn't over the limit I think he would have struggled for leaving the scene. I might be cynical, but he would be very unlucky for this to have happened on his first instance of drink driving. If he was driving after a drinking session with friends, there is no excuse and it's his fault alone.

[BlueBob + 701]

Interesting there as no conviction for fail to stop as well.  

[Zulu 22 + 4,642]

1 hour ago, pcmode said:

I can't say i'm sad by the outcome, and on the basis of the information given it's more than justified, even if he wasn't over the limit I think he would have struggled for leaving the scene. I might be cynical, but he would be very unlucky for this to have happened on his first instance of drink driving. If he was driving after a drinking session with friends, there is no excuse and it's his fault alone.

Not sad of the outcome, just sad that such an incident had happened. Let everybody down, the job, his colleagues, his family and himself. Again sadly there is still a culture of drinking in the CID.

[BlueBob + 701]

7 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

Not sad of the outcome, just sad that such an incident had happened. Let everybody down, the job, his colleagues, his family and himself. Again sadly there is still a culture of drinking in the CID.

Not sure I’d single out CID, but know where you’re coming from.   

[pcmode 40]

31 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

Not sad of the outcome, just sad that such an incident had happened. Let everybody down, the job, his colleagues, his family and himself. Again sadly there is still a culture of drinking in the CID.

Can't disagree with that. 16 years thrown away.