Student officer sacked after hitting colleague

A misconduct panel considered the evidence during a two-day hearing

An "exemplary" student officer has been sacked after hitting a colleague in the face and grabbing another colleague inappropriately during a night out.

Olivia Wilkinson had been socialising with colleagues in Liverpool city centre on 13 April 2024 during which she had consumed "quite a lot of strong alcoholic drinks", the misconduct hearing heard.

Wilkinson accepted she had hit one of her colleagues, but she denied inappropriately touching the other.

However, the panel ruled her actions amounted to gross misconduct and she was dismissed without notice.

Wilkinson said she had been "particularly anxious" about going out and had not eaten anything before she had started drinking.

This meant her memory of the night was "patchy and vague" and she said she was not in a position to challenge witness statements, the tribunal heard.

She said she accepted that she had hit one of her colleagues after speaking to police trainers and other colleagues who were present on the night out, but added she had no recollection of the incident.

She acknowledged that she had behaved inappropriately and said she felt "disappointment, shame and embarrassment".

However, she denied grabbing a colleague inappropriately.

She acknowledged it was a possibility she might have grabbed the colleague, but said she did not want to admit to something which may not have occurred.

The panel heard her colleague had not made the complaint, and the only witness to the incident had indicated he wanted to retract his statement about the second allegation.

In personal mitigation, the panel was told Wilkinson, who joined Merseyside Police at 19, had been an exemplary student officer and role model who was well regarded by her peers.

However both allegations were found to be proven following a two-day hearing.