Kent Police officers have been disciplined for a range of offences

by Alex Claridge

One police officer in Kent is sacked or forced to resign every three months because of disciplinary breaches, shock figures reveal.

Data obtained by the KM Group shows that in the last eight years, 34 constables and sergeants have been made to leave as a result of disciplinary action for offences including drink driving, possessing a class A drug, assault and corruption plus conspiracy to falsify a document.

The year 2009 was a particularly bad one for the force, when two sergeants and five constables were fired in the space of 10 months.

And March this year saw one constable hauled before his superiors and dismissed for six different disciplinary matters.

Kent Police was forced to reveal the details of all disciplinary action since January 2005 under Freedom of Information Act laws, but claims it cannot state which station a disciplined officer works at in case it breaches data protection rules.

Four of those officers disciplined held the rank of inspector or higher, but the force will not say exactly which - prompting speculation some are in senior management roles.

Of the other officers disciplined, 202 were constables, 20 were sergeants and three were specials.

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Pughsley said: "We expect high standards from everyone representing the force.

"This includes professionalism and integrity from officers and staff both at work and home.

"Most of those who are employed at Kent Police serve Kent with the commitment and dedication that the public deserve. Anyone falling short of the standards we expect is subject to scrutiny and dealt with appropriately.

"Any offences committed by officers or staff are investigated in the same way as anyone else, but are also subject to disciplinary action from the force."

Officers' honesty and integrity is the largest cause of disciplinary action, followed by the performance of their duties and their general conduct.

Seventeen officers committed crimes and seven were sacked or forced to leave as a result.

One constable convicted of two counts of common assault escaped with a caution, while two others caught drink driving were either reprimanded or fined.

A special constable was forced to resign for corruption and conspiracy to falsify a document, the same fate bestowed on a sergeant caught in possession of a class A drug.

Two more constables were required to quit after notching up convictions for drink driving, along with another for offences of harassment and abuse of authority.

Since 2009, activity relating to equality and diversity has brought six officers before superiors for work-related transgressions.