A police officer has recently been found guilty of falsifying information regarding an alleged mushroom picker at Bradgate Park, a site designated for its scientific significance. The officer, PC Christopher Vickers, was accused of deliberately recording false details in an official report.
Incident Overview
The incident began when police received reports of a person illegally picking mushrooms in Bradgate Park. Picking mushrooms is prohibited due to conservation laws.
PC Vickers, who had been with the police force since 2004, attempted to contact the woman involved. However, when he visited her home, she was not present. Instead, he spoke to her husband.
Actions Taken by PC Vickers
- Informed the husband about intending to issue a community resolution.
- Obtained the husband’s signature on the resolution without speaking to the woman.
- Filed the resolution despite breaching established procedures.
By doing so, PC Vickers circumvented the proper protocol, believing it would save him time and effort. This community resolution could have resulted in a criminal record for the woman, jeopardizing her employment.
False Reporting and Consequences
PC Vickers later documented the incident in the Leicestershire Police reporting system called Niche. He falsely stated that the woman had admitted her wrongdoing and accepted the community resolution. This statement was misleading and contradicted police regulations.
Community resolutions can only be issued when individuals acknowledge their offense, which did not occur in this case.
Disciplinary Action
Upon discovering the falsification, the police department reversed the community resolution and initiated misconduct proceedings against Vickers. He was charged with dishonest conduct, significantly undermining public trust in the police.
A misconduct hearing was held at police headquarters in Enderby, chaired by Assistant Chief Constable James Avery. Vickers did not attend the hearing as he had already departed from the force.
Hearing Findings
The hearing determined that PC Vickers was guilty of gross misconduct. ACC Avery’s report indicated that the officer had intentionally recorded incorrect information, intending to mislead readers regarding compliance with force policies.
Final Outcome
ACC Avery emphasized the seriousness of Vickers’ actions, affirming that they constituted a significant deviation from acceptable conduct standards. As a result, Vickers is now permanently banned from serving as a police officer.
This case highlights the importance of accountability within law enforcement and the need for strict adherence to established protocols to maintain public trust.
