Former Durham Police Officer Barred From Policing After Assault Findings..

Durham Police HQ

Former Durham Police Officer Barred from Policing After Panel Finds Domestic Abuse Allegations Proven..

4th September 2026

A former Durham Constabulary officer would have been dismissed from the force after a disciplinary panel concluded that he assaulted and subjected his former partner to domestic abuse.

The misconduct hearing took place at Peterlee Police Station in August, with the officer referred to only as “Former Officer A” and his former partner as “Ms A” due to reporting restrictions put in place by the panel itself.

Serious allegations considered by panel..

The panel heard that Former Officer A and Ms A had been in an intimate relationship between around September 2020 and September 2024.

It was alleged that during the weeks leading up to September 22, 2024, the former officer subjected Ms A to violent and abusive behaviour, including slamming her head against a wall and causing bruising to her eye and chest. The allegations also included damage being caused to a wall at their shared home.

A further incident was alleged to have taken place on September 22, when the officer was accused of hitting Ms A in the face, banging her head against a door, pinning her to the floor and causing an injury to her hand. The Former Officer A denied ever assaulting Ms A.

He had resigned from Durham Police earlier in 2026 and chose not to attend the hearing, although he was represented by a Police Federation representative, where he admitted having been in a relationship with Ms A, but denied the assault and domestic abuse allegations.

Panel examined body-worn video and messages

The disciplinary panel considered a 226-page hearing bundle which included text messages, photographs, witness statements and communications between Ms A, the former officer and Ms A’s brother. Body-worn video footage from police officers who attended Ms A’s home on September 22, 2024 was also considered, with the panel ultimately concluding unanimously that Ms A had been assaulted by Former Officer A on September 22 and found the relevant allegations to be proven.

The panel also noted that Ms A repeatedly expressed concern about getting Former Officer A into trouble and about the possibility of him losing his job.

It concluded that an alternative explanation given to police — that she had injured herself after tripping over suitcases — had been invented in an attempt to protect the former officer.

The panel also considered text messages and photographs to provide corroboration for the allegations and subsequently found the allegations relating to the earlier incidents proven as well.

Gross misconduct

Having found the allegations proven on the civil standard applicable to misconduct proceedings, the panel concluded that Former Officer A had breached the police Standard of Professional Behaviour relating to Discreditable Conduct. The panel described his culpability as high and said his actions involved serious violence against a woman it considered to be vulnerable.

It also identified physical injury, continuing health consequences, psychological distress and damage to public confidence in policing among the harm caused by his behaviour, with the panel identifying the vulnerability of the victim, the violence against women and the repeated nature of the behaviour to be aggravating factors.

The panel found no mitigating circumstances and noted that Former Officer A had shown no remorse. The behaviour was consequently assessed as gross misconduct.

Officer placed on barred list

Because Former Officer A had already resigned from Durham Constabulary, the disciplinary panel could not dismiss him.

Instead, it considered what would have happened had he remained a serving officer with the panel concluding that he would have been dismissed and directed that his name be placed on the College of Policing barred list, preventing him from returning to policing in specified roles.

In reaching its decision, the panel said maintaining public trust and confidence was fundamental and stressed that police officers are expected to uphold the highest standards both on and off duty.