WYP v PC JB

Laura Nash acted for an officer who had been charged with excess alcohol, following an overdose when she had left her house and driven to avoid her sons finding her body. Having successfully argued in the magistrates court against a change of charge which led to a dismissal of the case, Laura argued before the the Panel that the officer’s actions did not amount to gross misconduct as defined within the 2020 Regulations due to the state of her mental health. Despite the Appropriate Authority submitting the officer’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct and therefore dismissal was appropriate, the Panel accepted Laura’s submissions, finding the officer’s actions amounted to misconduct only, and imposed a written warning.