West Mercia Police officer dismissed

A serving West Mercia Police officer has been dismissed following and a former officer has been told he would’ve been dismissed had he not already resigned, following a misconduct hearing.

The hearing found that Sergeant Harjit Singh, aged 48, and former PC Samuel Mitchell, aged 28, seriously breached the honesty and integrity standards set out in the Police (Conduct) regulations 2020 and amounted to gross misconduct.  

The officers were based in a response team at Kidderminster Police Station.

On 4 July 2022, PC Mitchell was driving a marked police vehicle, above the speed limit. He activated a speed camera and was issued with a speeding ticket.  

The Road Traffic Act exempts emergency vehicles from observing speed limits to lawfully undertake their duties. PC Mitchell submitted and signed an exemption request on the basis that he has been trying to stop a vehicle which had been involved in an incident. This was not the case, he had no lawful exemption from speeding.

Sergeant Singh signed to support the exemption form knowing it contained false information.

A third officer was found to have no case to answer.

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Jones said “We expect our police officers to act honestly and with integrity. These officers, collectively, behaved in a way that was dishonest and abused their position.

“PC Mitchell, supported by his Sergeant knowingly submitted false information, in order to cover up a speeding fine.

“Behaviour like this undermines public confidence in policing and we make no apology for rooting out individuals who did meet the standards the public rightly expect.”

Sergeant Singh has been dismissed with immediate effect and will be added to the College of Policing Barred List.

Former PC Mitchell resigned from his role in January 2024 and will be added to the College of Policing Barred List.

The Barred List prevents those added to it from ever working for a UK police service.

The outcome of the hearing is subject to the normal appeals process.