Police officer forged witness retraction

Neal Murray was dismissed by Cleveland Police due to separate allegations

A former police officer has admitted creating and signing a false witness account.

PC Neal Murray first appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court in July 2023, charged with misconduct in public office.

The former Cleveland officer initially denied creating and signing a document claiming a victim of criminal damage had withdrawn their complaint, but he changed his plea to guilty ahead of a trial due to begin at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday.

He is due to be sentenced on 17 October.

Murray was dismissed by the force in May due to separate allegations, the Independent Office for Police Misconduct (IOPC) said.

'Deliberate act'

The watchdog's investigation showed Murray investigated allegations of criminal damage at a house in October 2020 and had taken a statement from the victim.

The officer said he returned to the victim's house about three weeks later and was told the complainant no longer supported the prosecution and wanted to withdraw their statement.

Murray told the IOPC he closed the investigation after the victim signed a document on the officer's electronic notepad retracting their statement.

However, the victim said Murray had never returned to their house and they had not signed any documents.

The IOPC found the signature was "distinctly" different to the one on the original statement and it had been signed "in the immediate vicinity" of Hartlepool Police Station, rather than the victim's home.

Emily Barry, IOPC regional director, said: "This was a deliberate and dishonest act designed to end an investigation into a complaint made by a member of public.

"He [Murray] has shown a lack of professionalism, a lack of respect for the rights of members of the public and of the law and grossly breached his authority."