Essex Police officers sacked for poor assault investigation

PCs Liam Wayland and James Cross, both of Essex Police, were found to have breached multiple standards of professional behaviour following a misconduct hearing.

The breaches included authority, respect and courtesy, duties and responsibilities, integrity, and discreditable conduct.

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hooper, who chaired the panel, said: "I want to apologise to the man who should have received a much better service from us, and I plan to contact him personally.

"The first duty of a police officer is to protect and help people.

"Clearly, in this case, neither of these officers did that."

The officers were called to an incident in Clacton in June 2025, where they found a man with injuries.

However, they failed to listen to the victim, consider his vulnerabilities, or make enquiries with witnesses and CCTV.

Instead, they reported over the radio that the man had simply fallen during a medical episode, and no crime was recorded.

The man was taken home and later seen by ambulance.

Mr Hooper said: "They did not attempt to help him, engage with people who may have had information – in fact they did the opposite.

"These actions are in stark contrast to the overwhelming number of officers in Essex who help people and follow up on witness accounts each and every day."

Both officers have been dismissed without notice and placed on the Police Barred List.