An off-duty police constable crashed her Mercedes into bollards in the central reservation of a road while in possession of cocaine. Elinor Brooks-Griffiths subsequently resigned from her role, and the force ruled she would have been dismissed immediately had she not resigned.
Crash and discovery of cocaine
A police misconduct hearing at South Wales Police headquarters in Bridgend heard how at approximately 1.12am on January 18, a member of the public made a 999 call to Gwent Police reporting a road traffic accident. They said a black Mercedes 108 had collided with bollards in the central reservation.
The caller added that the front of the car was badly damaged and a female had got out and left the scene. Two police officers attended at 1.15am and searched the abandoned car. Inside, they found two snap bags containing cocaine, a police radio battery, and a black police torch. After subsequent inquiries, it was found to be Brooks-Griffiths' vehicle, and she was arrested.
Court proceedings and sentencing
Brooks-Griffiths appeared before Newport Magistrates' Court on August 17, where she pleaded guilty to being the driver of a motor vehicle and failing to stop and report a road traffic accident, and possession of a controlled class A drug, namely cocaine. She appeared before the same court for sentencing on October 8, receiving six penalty points and a fine of £435.
Brooks-Griffiths admitted she had breached police standards of professional behaviour and accepted that her conduct amounted to gross misconduct. The hearing was told she resigned as a police officer shortly before the misconduct hearing was due to take place. The presenting officer said she had breached multiple standards, including acting with honesty and behaving in a manner that does not discredit the police service or undermine public confidence.
Chief constable's ruling
Delivering the outcome, Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan said her behaviour had been premeditated, deliberate, and a "significant deviation" from the law. "I'm satisfied that PC Brooks-Griffiths held a position of trust and responsibility and her conduct is a serious breach of that trust," he said. "She has profusely apologised and shown remorse. I have no doubt she will learn from this harsh lesson."
The chief constable said he had considered personal mitigation surrounding issues she mentioned in a letter to him, but the weight of that mitigation would be limited. The allegations were proven and amounted to gross misconduct, the hearing concluded.
Chief Constable Vaughan said there was only one possible outcome for Brooks-Griffiths, and he had no hesitation in saying she would have been immediately dismissed had she not chosen to resign. He also said she would be placed on the College of Policing barred list. "She has lined the hands of those who torment our communities," he said. "There's no room for this behaviour at South Wales Police. This type of behaviour will not be tolerated in any way. Police officers should be trusted to the ends of the earth." Brooks-Griffiths did not attend the hearing.
