Ex Colchester PC Shaun Hammond committed gross misconduct

Former PC Shaun Hammond attended a police misconduct hearing chaired by Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington.

The panel was told Hammond sent and received emails between his work and personal email addresses over three months from July to October 2022.

Headquarters - a hearing took place at Essex Police's head office in Chelmsford, Essex (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Investigators from the professional standards department uncovered a slew of emails which related to a visa application he was sponsoring.

Some of the emails included falsified letters and documents.

Hammond was put before a misconduct panel on May 21, when he faced questions from Mr Harrington about his actions.

The panel found Hammond’s conduct in falsifying the documents breached the standards of professional behaviour of honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct.

The panel also concluded Hammond’s improper use of police equipment and his work email account breached the force’s standards of professional behaviour of duties and responsibilities.

Had Hammond still been serving, he would have been dismissed, Essex Police confirmed.

In a statement, Mr Harrington said Hammond failed to uphold Essex Police’s standards in both his personal and professional life.

He said: “Former PC Hammond’s actions fell well below the high standards we demand and expect every day at Essex Police.

“These standards extend beyond the workplace to conduct at home and officers are expected to act with honesty and integrity in their everyday personal life.

“Sadly, his actions in falsifying documents in a bid to support a visa application is discreditable conduct at a highly serious level.

Serious - BJ Harrington described Mr Hammond's actions as 'discreditable conduct at a highly serious level' (Image: Essex Police)

“Further to this, former PC Hammond used his work email account for an improper purpose, risking data breaches.”

He continued: “Like all staff, he would have been subject to regular training relating to the use of police equipment and the handling of information and personal data.

“I want to reassure the public that the overwhelming majority of officers, staff and volunteers are highly disciplined in how they utilise this equipment and their work email accounts.”