Police Officer Dismissed for Allowing Domestic Violence Suspect to Leave and Falsifying Evidence

A Nottinghamshire Police officer has been dismissed from service after permitting a domestic violence suspect to depart a crime scene and subsequently falsifying evidence. PC James Shekelton was dispatched to an address on 13 December last year following a report from a woman alleging assault and unlawful detention by her ex-partner. During an accelerated misconduct hearing conducted on Wednesday at Nottinghamshire Police’s Sherwood Lodge headquarters, it was revealed that he deactivated his bodyworn camera and permitted the suspect to leave. He then failed to properly label the footage he had recorded for evidentiary purposes. When a detective was assigned to investigate the matter, PC Shekelton denied having recorded any footage, an action the panel described as “another deliberate attempt to conceal his actions.” PC Shekelton subsequently claimed that the suspect was in the process of leaving upon his arrival, despite the fact that the suspect was actually present on the sofa at his ex-partner’s address when the officer reached the scene. He later acknowledged committing “genuine mistakes” but maintained that he did not intentionally try to mislead the investigation. The hearing concluded that he had violated several standards of professional behaviour, specifically: duties and responsibilities, honesty and integrity, discreditable conduct, and order and instruction. In addition to his dismissal from the force, he was also added to the police barred list. Chief Constable Kate Meynell, who presided over the panel, stated that Shekelton’s actions constituted “a continuous series of lies relating to the existence of evidence that was integral to the investigation.” She added, “Honesty and integrity is paramount for all police officers and the actions of this officer fell far below the high standards expected.” “His conduct undermines public trust and confidence and therefore he must be dismissed and placed on the barred list,” she concluded.