More than 20 Northumbria Police officers were sacked and banned from policing in just 12 months, as new figures from the College of Policing show a record number of officers in England and Wales were barred from the service for breaching professional standards.
In total, 757 officers were barred in 2025/26, up from 735 in 2024/25 and 594 in 2023/24. The College of Policing said this is the highest number in a single year since the barred list was introduced at the end of 2017.
North East forces affected
In the North East, 22 Northumbria Police officers were banned in 2025/26, compared with 15 in 2024/25, 19 in 2023/24, eight in 2022/23 and seven in 2021/22. Durham Constabulary saw eight barred in 2025/26, two in the previous three years and just one in 2021/22.
Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson, director of operational standards at the College of Policing, said: “Policing is built on trust and these figures show we will not hesitate to act when that trust is broken. 757 officers have been removed and barred from ever serving again, including those who retired or resigned while under investigation.
“This represents 0.5% of all serving officers, with the vast majority of officers serving with courage, professionalism and integrity. We all deserve a service that roots out those who fall short. Where standards are breached, we will find out and we will act.
“Since the barred list was introduced in December 2017, 3,591 regular officers have been added in total, with the pace of dismissals accelerating markedly: 757 officers were barred last year alone, more than in any single year since the list began and over twice the annual average of the preceding four years.”
Reasons for dismissal
The College of Policing report set out the different reasons officers were sacked and banned from working in policing, with multiple reasons cited in some cases. Reasons included dishonesty in 142 cases, discriminatory behaviour in 110 and 101 unlawful access or disclosure of information. There were 87 cases involving sexual offences or misconduct, with child sexual abuse in six instances, rape in five, and abuse of position for a sexual purpose in 46.
In terms of rank, 641 of those barred were police constables, 84 sergeants, 18 inspectors, five chief inspectors, five superintendents and four chief superintendents. The report also said that 334 serving officers were placed on the list, 397 after they had resigned and 26 after they had retired.
The forces with the highest number of officers added were the Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester Police, and West Midlands Police. The number of officers from forces in England and Wales placed on the list has increased year on year since 2021/22 when 299 were added, with 394 added in 2022/23.
North East cases on the barred list
North East cops barred last year included Northumbria Police detective Sue Thorpe, who stalked her ex-partner and falsely accused him of being a “paedophile”. Newcastle Crown Court heard Thorpe, formerly of Whitley Bay, had misused the Police National Computer to look up the victim several times as part of her stalking. She was sentenced to two years suspended for two years and given a 10-year restraining order for stalking and misusing the police computer. Following her sentencing, a police misconduct hearing was held, where Thorpe was entered onto the police barred list.
Robert Stringer was a serving police officer based within Newcastle Area Command working from Etal Lane Police Station when he began bombarding his ex with unwanted calls and messages. Stringer also turned up to the woman's home and tried her door handle a number of times following their break-up.
Stringer pleaded guilty to stalking involving serious alarm and distress at York Magistrates' Court. Following his conviction, a police misconduct hearing took place, which found his behaviour was “criminal and constitutes a serious example of stalking”. Stringer admitted the misconduct and that it amounted to gross misconduct. His conduct also breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct, the hearing found. He was placed on the barred list.
In total, 25 police specials were placed on the barred list in the year to the end of March 2026, down from 31 the previous year and 29 in 2023/24, and 348 police staff, up from 280 in 2024/25 and 233 in 2023/24. The total number of officers added to the barred list between its introduction on December 15 2017 and March 31 2026 is 3,591.
