- cross-posted to:
- hertfordshire@feddit.uk
- cross-posted to:
- hertfordshire@feddit.uk
An inspector who sold his police trousers for £4 online has had his rank reduced after being found guilty of gross misconduct at a hearing.
Owen Hurley of Hertfordshire Police admitted he sold the item on Vinted, a second-hand selling app.
He told the misconduct hearing the trousers had been in his wardrobe at home for “a long time” and he wanted to “make space” after redecorating.
Mr Hurley was reduced to the rank of sergeant, effective immediately.
The trousers were spotted and reported to the force by a member of the public in summer 2023.
At the hearing on Tuesday Mr Hurley described the sale as “a mistake.”
He confirmed the trousers did not bear a police logo or insignia, but admitted the listing on Vinted indicated they were police issue.
Chief Constable Charlie Hall found the former inspector had ordered two new pairs of police trousers in January 2023, which were the same size as the items listed on the app.
Mr Hurley, who had served for 15 years, had said the old trousers were a poor fit.
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Wait, what, why?
It does feel like there’s more to this - they imply he didn’t need to sell them but he sold them for £4, so it isn’t the Great Trouser Heist.
But £4 is £4.
Not to be sniffed at. A bit like the copper’s trousers.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
An inspector who sold his police trousers for £4 online has had his rank reduced after being found guilty of gross misconduct at a hearing.
He told the misconduct hearing the trousers had been in his wardrobe at home for “a long time” and he wanted to “make space” after redecorating.
Chief Constable Charlie Hall found the former inspector had ordered two new pairs of police trousers in January 2023, which were the same size as the items listed on the app.
Counsel on behalf of the officer said “not every mistake is unethical” and argued that in selling the item in his own name, Sgt Hurley had never tried to conceal his behaviour in a way which suggested deliberate wrongdoing.
Facing questions from the chief constable, Sgt Hurley said members of the public and his colleagues would likely view the incident as a “stupid mistake, doing something without thinking”.
He said dismissal “is not proportionate” but a reduction in rank to sergeant recognises that the former inspector’s line management role is an aggravating factor in the case.
The original article contains 411 words, the summary contains 178 words. Saved 57%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
