The actions of the three officers is said to have caused a colleague to be stressed and to lose her hair
Three Merseyside Police officers are accused of “spraying colleagues with nitrous oxide” and causing a female colleague to be so stressed she lost hair. Former Sergeant Andrew Ditchfield, former Constable Callum Smith and serving Constable James Taafe will appear before a hearing next February accused of gross misconduct.
In a note on Merseyside Police’s website, the three officers are accused of spraying their colleagues with nitrous oxide – more commonly known as laughing gas – and soaking a colleague with water. The note says in doing so “they have abused their authority as a police officer and have failed to treat colleagues with any respect or courtesy”.
The officers are said to have caused a colleague to be stressed and to lose her hair and change their behaviours, “thereby abusing their authority as a police officer”. The officers also face allegations of seizing and effectively destroying property and treating a colleague differently because she is a woman.
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In total the three men face the following allegations at the level of gross misconduct: authority, respect and courtesy; honesty and integrity; duties and responsibilities; use of force; equality and diversity; and discreditable conduct. If the misconduct panel, chaired by Mr David Tyme, finds the allegations proven on the balance of probabilities the three men could face punishment including immediate dismissal and a ban on becoming a police officer again.
The note says former Constable Smith also faces a further allegation of viewing a sexualised video with a view of taunting a member of the public. Former Sergeant Ditchfield is further accused of “viewing footage and laughing at the misfortune of a colleague”.
A 10-day hearing is due to start on February 24 next year at Merseyside Police’s HQ in Everton.
