Greater Manchester Police officer who fled scene after car crash sacked

Former GMP officer Joel Hopkins was sacked without notice

A police constable who fled the scene of a car crash has been sacked.

Former PC Joel Hopkins, 47, admitted gross misconduct at a hearing on 15 March.

The Greater Manchester Police officer had previously pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident at Liverpool Magistrates' Court.

Hopkins' name was added to the College of Policing barred list, prohibiting him from working in any policing role in the UK.

The accelerated misconduct hearing, chaired by Chief Constable Stephen Watson, was told the officer's car had been involved in a collision with another vehicle in Golborne, Wigan, in July 2022.

'Terrible lapse'

Other officers responding to the incident asked Hopkins to walk a short distance up the street to wait behind a safety barrier as they assessed the scene for injuries and damage.

However Hopkins, who worked in the force's specialist operations unit, ignored the request and left on foot.

He later reported the crash and attended a police station in Leigh.

At his sentencing in 2023, Hopkins was disqualified from driving for six months, fined £1,250 and ordered to pay a £600 victim surcharge and prosecution costs of £400. The ban was later downgraded to seven penalty points on appeal.

Mr Watson described PC his behaviour as a "terrible lapse in judgement".

He said: "It remains clear however, that notwithstanding the officer's previously unblemished record, that this factor does not outweigh the potential for the loss of confidence that would ensue if PC Hopkins were to be permitted to continue to perform in the office of constable."