GMP officer sacked after colleagues noticed ‘his appearance and smell’

Colleagues of then-PC Amanda Cocks raised concerns about “her appearance and the smell of intoxicants”, a report reveals.

A Greater Manchester Police officer working as a radio dispatcher in the force’s control room failed a breath test while on duty and was later convicted of drink-driving.

Amanda Cocks’ police colleagues raised concerns about her “appearance and the smell of intoxicants” after she arrived at GMP headquarters. A now-published judgment, made public after a misconduct hearing, reveals she was removed from office and then charged with the offence.

She allegedly “consumed a significant quantity of alcohol” and “presented herself as fit to carry out her duties, which are directly related to the safety of the public and the police”.

The key, reliable role includes deploying officers and resources to scenes following 999 calls, providing updates and liaising with other emergency services, and checking people’s backgrounds to inform the agents. Ms Cocks has now been made redundant.

The judgment reveals that she was found guilty following a trial at Sefton Magistrates’ Court in July for “driving with excess alcohol in her system”. She was fined £500 and banned from driving for 18 months.

Ms Cocks is said to have joined force HQ and then started working as a radio dispatcher in the force control room.

The judgment reads: “Following information provided by colleagues and supervisors within the force control room regarding the officer’s appearance and the odor of intoxicants, arrangements were made to that the officer be subjected to a breathalyzer test. Following a positive result, the officer was arrested and removed from the workplace where she was later charged with drunk driving.

GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who chaired the misconduct hearing, said: “The officer, after consuming a significant amount of alcohol, entered the workplace and introduced himself as being able to carry out his duties which are directly related to the safety of both people. the public and the police.

“Furthermore, she is found guilty of a criminal offense. Her actions, in relation to the offense of driving with excess alcohol, were deliberate and carried out with full knowledge that her conduct was both manifestly illegal and totally inconsistent with the standards of conduct required of a police officer.”

He highlighted “the risk of injury or worse” to other road users and to “the public and fellow officers in the imperfect exercise of his primary role as dispatcher in the force control room”. “His inappropriate behavior also damages the reputation and image of the service,” the chief added.

Ms Cocks, according to the decision, admitted her misconduct and offered an apology described as “genuine and sincere”.

The hearing spoke of “some very difficult times in his life” and personal mitigations, but Chief Constable Watson said his “offensive behavior” was “clearly unlawful, reckless and contrary to the clearest instructions” . He said he found the “level of seriousness” “very high”.

“It is with some regret that I have concluded that allowing PC Cocks to remain on duty is inconsistent with public confidence in the police,” the police chief added.

His name will now be added to the Police College’s ‘prohibited list’, preventing him from serving as a police officer again. No further details were given.