Thames Valley Police officers sacked for gross misconduct

Two police officers have been sacked after failing to attend two emergencies and going for coffee prior to another.

PC Robert Ashcroft and PC Ataul Ahmad breached the "standards of professional behaviour" between January and March, Thames Valley Police said.

Both officers, who were stationed in Slough, were dismissed from the force following a misconduct hearing.

Det Ch Supt Chris Ward said there was "no place" on the force for officers who behaved in such a manner.

The three callouts were to a report of a man armed with a knife outside a house, a report of a group of men hare coursing, and the third callout was to an assault on a man.

PC Ahmad and PC Ashcroft, who were on duty in a marked police vehicle, failed to attend the first incident on 21 January and "deliberately went to a different location" to avoid attending, police said.

Prior to attending the scene of hare coursing, the constables delayed their arrival by getting coffee from a petrol station, the force added.

The pair then failed to attend the third callout on 30 March, despite being in a position to respond.

Their conduct amounted to gross misconduct and breached the force's standards in respect of "honesty and integrity, duties and responsibilities".

Det Ch Supt Ward said: "For the public to have confidence in the police we expect the highest of standards from all of our officers and their commitment to serving the public."