A FORMER police officer who used ‘unreasonable force’ against against a teenager in Rugby would have been sacked had she not already resigned.
Following a special case hearing at West Mercia Police’s headquarters, former PC Laura Lawson received a finding of ‘would have been dismissed’ for gross misconduct over the incident.
In April 2017, Lawson – a West Mercia Police officer who had been based in Warwickshire – attended a disturbance in Avocet Close, Rugby, where she used force against a 17-year-old boy and two others.
The incident was investigated and the Crown Prosecution Service authorised a summons against the officer.
In October last year, 31-year-old Lawson pleaded guilty at Worcester Crown Court to common assault. She was given a three-month jail sentence suspended for 12 months, a three month curfew order, and was made to pay costs. Lawson resigned from the force following the case.
At the police hearing, chaired by West Mercia Police’s Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, it was determined Lawson’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to Use of Force and Discreditable Conduct.
Head of Professional Standards, Supt Helena Bennett, said: “A serving police officer receiving a criminal conviction for assault brings discredit on the force and is completely unacceptable when we are responsible for protecting the public from harm.
“Lawson’s actions amounted to a breach of the standards of professional behaviour we expect from officers, and were entirely inappropriate.”
The hearing concluded that had Lawson not resigned, she would have been dismissed from the force. She will now be placed on the College of Policing barred list.
The outcome of the hearing is subject to the normal appeals process.
