A police officer sacked following a complaint about smell from his colleagues

The officer was sacked after concerns were raised about “his appearance and the smell of intoxicants”.

A police officer was fired after her colleagues noticed a “smell of intoxicants” as she arrived at work.

Greater Manchester Police officer Amanda Cocks failed a breathalyzer test while on duty as a radio dispatcher in the force’s control room and was later convicted of drink-driving . When she arrived to work at GMP headquarters, colleagues raised concerns about her “appearance and smell of intoxicants”, reports the Manchester Evening News.

She was removed from office and a misconduct hearing was announced. She was said to have “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 police officers”.

His role included deploying officers and resources to the scene after 999 calls, providing updates and liaising with other emergency services, and carrying out background checks on individuals to inform agents. Ms Cocks has now been made redundant.

Following a trial at Sefton Magistrates’ Court in July, PC Cocks was found guilty of “driving with excess alcohol in her system”. She was fined £500 and banned from driving for 18 months.

Ms Cocks went to force HQ and started work as a radio dispatcher in the force control room when her colleagues noticed the smell of alcohol, the Manchester Evening News reported. The official report stated: “Following information provided by colleagues and supervisors in the force control room regarding the officer’s appearance and the odor of intoxicants, arrangements were made for the officer or breathalyzer. Following a positive result, the officer was arrested and deported. from the workplace where she was later charged with drunk driving.”

GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson said: “The officer, after consuming a significant quantity of alcohol, entered the workplace and presented himself as fit to carry out his duties which a direct relationship with the safety of 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. According to the judgment, Ms Cocks admitted her misconduct and presented 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”.

The chief constable added: “It is with some regret that I have concluded that allowing PC Cocks to remain in service is inconsistent with public confidence in the police.” 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.

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