An off-duty police officer has been sacked after a misconduct hearing found her guilty of attempting to obtain CCTV footage from an Asda store in relation to a car collision involving a family member. PC Brigitta Pal faced the misconduct hearing at Merseyside Police HQ and was dismissed for gross misconduct following the incident at Asda in Birchwood, Warrington.
The hearing, held between September 9 and 11, revealed that on July 29 last year, a relative of Pal’s was involved in a minor collision at Asda. Subsequently, the other party involved in the collision began receiving phone calls from an unknown number, with Pal identifying herself as a Merseyside Police officer who claimed the other party was at fault. Pal, who was off-duty at the time, also mentioned having seen CCTV footage of the incident at Asda.
When Pal visited Asda to view the CCTV footage, she failed to disclose her relation to one of the individuals involved and did not provide the full details of the incident to the store staff. Despite requesting the footage, Asda declined to release it without a crime reference number, prompting a complaint from the public and an investigation by the force’s professional standards department.
The hearing determined that Pal’s actions demonstrated a lack of integrity and professionalism, particularly in terms of honesty and transparency. As a result, she was dismissed without notice and will be barred from policing for a minimum of five years by the College of Policing.
Merseyside Police Detective Chief Superintendent Sarbjit Kaur, head of the professional standards department, emphasised the force’s commitment to upholding high standards of conduct both on and off duty. Kaur stated that the dismissal of Constable Pal following a thorough investigation of the incident was necessary to maintain public trust in the police force.
In response to the outcome, Kaur asserted that the force takes all reports of misconduct seriously and will investigate and take appropriate action to ensure public confidence in Merseyside Police. The case of PC Brigitta Pal serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty, integrity, and maintaining professional standards within law enforcement.
As the former police constable faces the consequences of her actions, the incident at Asda serves as a cautionary tale of the repercussions of misconduct within the police force. The outcome of the misconduct hearing highlights the vigilance and accountability required of all officers to uphold the integrity and trust expected by the public.