PC died after paternity leave arrest, inquest told

A complaint was made against Hampshire Constabulary to the police watchdog over its handling of the case

A serving police officer died after he was accused of misconduct and arrested at home during paternity leave, an inquest has heard.

PC Alex Hazlett-Beard, of Hampshire Constabulary, died at Lepe Country Park in the New Forest on 11 February.

A pre-inquest review hearing was told that the 32-year-old was subject to a misconduct investigation at the time of his death relating to a road accident in May 2023.

The hearing was told a complaint was made against the force to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over its handling of the case.

The hearing was told PC Hazlett-Beard was on paternity leave after the birth of his daughter when he was arrested at his home in Southampton for allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Coroner Nicholas Walker said an investigation had been launched by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) after the complaint was made against Hampshire Constabulary to the IOPC.

'Intolerable' delay

Pravin Fernando, representing Hampshire Constabulary, said the probe was expected to take nine months, with a further six months for the IOPC to review its report.

The coroner added he was "utterly frustrated" by the delay which was "intolerable" for PC Hazlett-Beard's family.

Mr Walker said issues to be looked at by the full inquest included the arrest of PC Hazlett-Beard at his home, welfare support for him and his firearms application.

Mr Fernando said an accident in 2023 left PC Hazlett-Beard suffering post-traumatic stress disorder.

His aspirations to be part of the police surveillance unit also left him in a "stressful situation" at the start of 2025, he added.

Mr Walker adjourned the case for a full hearing to start on September 28, 2026.

Last month, Hampshire police and crime commissioner Donna Jones announced an independent review of the force's professional standards department after the death of PC Hazlett-Beard and the unrelated death of another officer, PC Claire Browne, in July.

She said: "Recent events have understandably raised questions and concerns among officers, staff and the wider public about how the force handles internal investigations."

In a statement released after PC Hazlett-Beard's death, Spencer Wragg, chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, described him as a "dedicated officer who served the force diligently for a number of years".