Ex Wiltshire Police officer faces misconduct hearing over crash

Former PC Peter Lawson will be the subject of a hearing at Wiltshire Police headquarters in Devizes on May 13, 2024. 

He faces several allegations for incidents throughout 2022. 

This includes using a police vehicle he was told not to use, making an inappropriate and disrespectful comment about a fellow Wiltshire Police officer, and engaging in a 'road rage incident'. 

On a separate day, he drove badly, causing a collision, which led to him being convicted of driving without due care and attention, failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision, and failing to report involvement in a road traffic collision.

After initially denying the charges, Lawson, 49, from Anzio Road, Devizes, was found guilty by a trial at Bristol Magistrates Court in November last year.

He was driving a marked Mercedes Benz Sprinter police van on blue lights when he was involved in a crash involving two cars - a Citreon C4 and a Skoda Superb - on the A4 Avenue of La Fleche in Chippenham on December 7, 2022, where he then drove off without providing the necessary details. 

He was subsequently identified as the officer involved and the case was referred to Wiltshire Police’s Professional Standards Department.

Lawson was subsequently then suspended from the force.

As punishment for his conviction, he was fined £600 for the offence of failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision, had his licence endorsed with five points and was ordered to pay £775 to the Crown Prosecution Service and a victim surcharge of £480.

He was fined a further £600 for driving without due care and attention with the court.

Because of this, it is alleged that Lawson's behaviour has breached the standards of professional behaviour for police officers of authority, respect and courtesy, orders and instructions and discreditable conduct.

The hearing will determine if the former police officer would have been dismissed for gross misconduct if he was still with the force.

Speaking after his conviction, Detective Superintendent Liz Coles said: “We expect police officers to reflect the highest standards of conduct while carrying out their duties.

“Clearly Peter Lawson’s illegal actions fell far short of the expectations that the public should expect of a serving police officer.

“His actions have potentially damaging consequences in terms of the trust and confidence of the communities we serve."