A surge in the expulsion of corrupt police officers has been witnessed, as recent data reveals that 735 officers were dismissed and banned from service in the past year. This figure marks a 24% increase compared to the previous year and a significant rise from the 70 cases reported between December 2017 and March 2018. The College of Policing reported that 735 officers were added to the barred list by March 31, 2025, up from 593 in the preceding year.
The crackdown on dishonest and unethical behavior among police officers follows the Casey Review, which scrutinized the culture of the Metropolitan Police after the tragic incident involving officer Wayne Couzens and Sarah Everard in 2021. The most common reasons for dismissal included dishonesty, discriminatory conduct, unlawful information access, inappropriate communications, and sexual offenses.
The dismissed officers were predominantly constables, with a few senior officers like chief superintendent Nick Adderley also among those expelled. Adderley was found guilty of misconduct for falsifying details about his military service, including wearing fake medals. Another officer, Det Con Nicholas Henry, was sacked for gross misconduct after engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a teenage girl he met online.
In separate incidents, PC Dean Dempster was ousted from Greater Manchester Police for sexually assaulting a child while on duty, and PC Huw Orphan was barred from policing for physically assaulting his wife. The Metropolitan Police accounted for the highest number of dismissals, followed by Greater Manchester Police, Thames Valley Police, and West Midlands Police.
Assistant Chief Constable Tom Harding commended the efforts of police forces in swiftly addressing unacceptable behavior within their ranks, emphasizing the importance of upholding professional standards and ethical values in policing. The public can be assured that officers and staff on the barred list will not return to policing, ensuring the integrity and reputation of the police service.