Police officer drove to comedy show while on duty

Sharon Taylor was previously a police constable with Suffolk Police

A "dishonest" police officer who travelled to a comedy show when she was on duty would have been sacked if she had not left the force, a panel ruled.

Sharon Taylor, who was previously a police constable with Suffolk Police, drove to Nottingham and then back to Norfolk on 10 March when she should have been at work.

Prior to embarking on the journey she had visited the constabulary's headquarters and logged into her work account for three minutes before leaving in her own car, the report stated.

Taylor accepted her conduct amounted to gross misconduct and apologised for her behaviour.

'Serious nature'

During a misconduct hearing the panel was told Taylor had performed internet searches about a "comedian in Nottingham" and "parking in Nottingham" in the days before.

Ms Taylor, who showed a "lack of integrity", also attempted to claim payment for working anti-social hours as a way of making it look like she had worked.

On 18 February, Taylor also drove to a different social event, having travelled towards Norwich on the A140 when she should have been on duty.

Evidence showed she also failed to undertake any work on 28 January, 4 February, and 17 February, having only briefly logged into her personal constabulary account.

Following a hearing it was concluded Taylor's actions had amounted to gross misconduct that would have seen her dismissed if she was still a constable.

Assistant Chief Constable Nick Davison said: "I consider she deliberately set out, on the dates in question, to appear to be working when in fact she was not.

"I have determined a final written warning would not have been appropriate due to the serious nature of the misconduct.

"Therefore the only reasonable, proportionate and appropriate disciplinary action in this case is that Ms Taylor would have been dismissed."