Norfolk police officer turned blind eye to partner drug use
PC Grace Lee was found to have turned a blind to evidence of involvement of drug misuse and supply. A misconduct hearing, overseen by Norfolk chief constable Paul Sanford, found it “should have been obvious” to the officer what was happening but that she had failed to take action. Norfolk chief constable Paul Sanford has pleaded to crackdown on officer misconduct (Image: Jason Bye)
The officer has since left the police but finding her conduct had amounted to gross misconduct the disciplinary hearing said had she still been a serving officer she would have been dismissed without notice.
The full extent of the illegal activities she ignored were not revealed at the accelerated hearing, held at Norfolk Constabulary headquarters at Wymondham. However, it was told she had failed to record intelligence of knowledge of drug taking and the supply of drugs by associates including her partner.
She was found to have not complied with the Disclosable Associations policy which requires all police officers to disclose connections with criminals or those who pose a risk of corruption. A hearing at Norfolk police headquarters found PC Grace Lee’s actions had amount to gross misconduct (Image: Newsquest) Despite the former officer not being present, Mr Sanford said he was satisfied the disciplinary proceedings should go ahead in her absence.
She had declined to attend or send a representative and had said she had nothing to add to a statement she gave when interviewed by investigators, he was told.
“From the evidence presented it is clear that Miss Lee breached the standard of professional behaviour expected of police officers in respect of honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct,” said Mr Sanford. He said it was “not a case of ignorance” and that she had “suspected but failed to act”.
“It is through the diligence of her colleagues that the evidence was eventually brought to attention,” he added.