A Cambridgeshire police constable has been dismissed from the force for gross misconduct after a disciplinary panel found he failed to properly investigate a theft and then lied about his actions.
The hearing at Cambridge Crown Court was told that PC Reece Lacon was assigned to investigate a reported theft from Christchurch, Cambridge, in February 2022. Despite being provided with clear CCTV evidence identifying a suspect, PC Lacon took no substantive action on the case for over a year.
A Pattern of Neglect and Deception
According to the evidence presented, PC Lacon's failures were not isolated to this single incident. The panel heard that he subsequently created a false log entry in the police system, claiming he had attempted to contact the victim when no such attempt had been made.
This act of dishonesty was described as an attempt to cover up his initial neglect of duty. The independent panel concluded that PC Lacon had breached the standards of professional behaviour concerning his duties and responsibilities, as well as those pertaining to honesty and integrity.
Dismissal for Gross Misconduct
Following the hearing, PC Lacon was dismissed without notice. A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police stated that the outcome reflects the force's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.
"The public rightly expects police officers to carry out their duties diligently and with integrity," the spokesperson said. "This case demonstrates that when an individual falls seriously short of these standards, they will be held accountable."
The case has highlighted the importance of proper procedure and transparency within police investigations, ensuring public confidence in the force's ability to handle reports of crime effectively.
