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Police dismissals (Home Office forces) 2024 to 2025

Numbers on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

First published

About this report

Objective

The objective of this report is to:

  • report on outcomes regarding dismissals for the most serious discipline matters investigated, as well as dismissals for unsatisfactory performance and attendance
  • establish opportunities to determine trends, inform wider learning, and improve integrity and public confidence

A gross misconduct investigation is one where, if the allegation is proven, it could result in dismissal.

Figures in this report

The figures contained in this report relate to regular police officers, members of the Special Constabulary and police staff members who were placed on the barred list due to being dismissed between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

Barred list information and legislation

The barred list (The Police Barred list and Police Advisory List Regulations 2017) was introduced by legislation effective from 15 December 2017. This replaced the previous College of Policing disapproved register, which was established on 1 December 2013.

The barred list legislation does not apply to individuals barred from non-Home Office forces or from other agencies. Data from the British Transport Police, the Ministry of Defence Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the States of Jersey Police and the National Crime Agency is not included in this report.

The barred list legislation requires Home Office forces to provide details to the College of Policing of regular police officers, members of the Special Constabulary and police staff members who have been dismissed while serving, or after having retired or resigned. When the barred list legislation came into effect, a change in police regulations permitted officers to retire or resign while under gross misconduct investigation. The same legislation (The Police (Conduct, Complaints and Misconduct and Appear Tribunal) (Amendment) Regulations 2017) allows forces to continue conduct proceedings even when an officer has left the force and to find that the officer would have been dismissed if they were still serving.

There is no legislation that prevents members of police staff from retiring or resigning while under investigation for gross misconduct. Forces are not under a regulatory obligation to hold post-employment hearings. It is up to the force to decide whether such a post-employment hearing, convened according to local employment practices, should be held to determine if the individual would have been dismissed and should be placed on the barred list.

Barred list figures

Police officers

Total police officer dismissals

Table 1: Regular officers placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 

ForceDismissed while servingDismissed post-resignationDismissed post-retirementTotal
Avon and Somerset611219
Bedfordshire77014
Cambridgeshire55010
Cheshire0505
City of London2406
Cleveland53210
Cumbria3407
Derbyshire2507
Devon and Cornwall911020
Dorset1304
Durham1102
Dyfed-Powys1506
Essex710118
Gloucestershire78015
Greater Manchester1924043
Gwent1304
Hampshire and Isle of Wight512320
Hertfordshire47213
Humberside210113
Kent74011
Lancashire313016
Leicestershire49114
Lincolnshire0112
Merseyside1017027
Metropolitan123573183
Norfolk2709
North Wales1214
North Yorkshire5308
Northamptonshire73010
Northumbria77115
Nottinghamshire2316
South Wales49114
South Yorkshire712120
Staffordshire72110
Suffolk4228
Surrey19010
Sussex4105
Thames Valley1425140
Warwickshire1315
West Mercia3306
West Midlands1223237
West Yorkshire1516031
Wiltshire4408
All forces33437328735

In total, 2,834 regular police officers have been added to the barred list between its introduction on 15 December 2017 and the end of this reporting period on 31 March 2025.

Table 2: Regular police officers placed on the barred list between 15 December 2017 and 31 March 2025 

ForceDec 2017 - Mar 20202020-212021-222022-232023-242024-25Total
Avon and Somerset191388101977
Bedfordshire11555121452
Cambridgeshire632931033
Cheshire622410529
City of London11023613
Cleveland40610101040
Cumbria31218722
Derbyshire94018729
Devon and Cornwall1010109142073
Dorset82425425
Durham40122211
Dyfed-Powys64210619
Essex2371214251899
Gloucestershire321251528
Greater Manchester20613323643150
Gwent971610437
Hampshire and Isle of Wight41170142056
Hertfordshire8101211111365
Humberside147111291366
Kent15105971157
Lancashire8648141656
Leicestershire13397121458
Lincolnshire83356227
Merseyside133139222787
Metropolitan117505888123183619
Norfolk362310933
North Wales63255425
North Yorkshire23754829
Northamptonshire122313101050
Northumbria10478191563
Nottinghamshire131091315666
South Wales1711107141473
South Yorkshire10537162061
Staffordshire541241026
Suffolk32034820
Surrey1027741040
Sussex215121516574
Thames Valley36913111240121
Warwickshire34114518
West Mercia826514641
West Midlands361111192937143
West Yorkshire17311103031102
Wiltshire11335821
All forces5552572993945947352,834

Dismissals by police officer rank

Table 3: Ranks of regular police officers placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025

RankDismissed while servingDismissed post-resignationDismissed post-retirementTotal
Constable28932922640
Sergeant3130364
Inspector118120
Chief inspector1405
Superintendent1113
Chief superintendent0112
Chief officer1001
All ranks33437328735

 

Breaches of standards of professional behaviour

Table 4 presents the different breaches of the standards of professional behaviour (SPB), as outlined in Schedule 2 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, that were recorded for the dismissals of regular police officers.

The number of reasons recorded (1,484) was greater than the number of officers dismissed (735), because several breaches of the standards of professional behaviour can be recorded for a single dismissal. All categories were based on descriptions of the misconduct found at the hearing and reported to the College.

Table 4: Categories of the breaches of the SPB by regular police officers placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025

Standards of professional behaviour breachedNumber of instances
Authority, respect and courtesy214
Challenging and reporting improper behaviour22
Confidentiality78
Discreditable conduct614
Duties and responsibilities90
Equality and diversity105
Fitness for work33
Honesty and integrity224
Orders and instructions72
Unsatisfactory attendance 0
Unsatisfactory performance 9
Use of force23
Total1,484

Reasons for police officer dismissals

Table 5 presents the categories that were recorded for the dismissal of regular police officers. Categories will change yearly based on the misconduct reported.

The number of reasons recorded (1,149) was greater than the number of officers dismissed (735) because some categories overlapped into others. All categories were based on descriptions of the conduct that were reported to the College.

Year-on-year breaches have not been added, as categories change. See previous annual reports with this information.

Table 5: Categories of dismissal for regular police officers placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 

Categories of dismissalNumber of instances
 Absent without authority 7
 Abuse of authority 23
 Abuse of position for sexual purpose 31
 Alcohol-related behaviour 21
 Animal cruelty 0
 Assault (domestic) 18
 Assault (other) 39
 Assisting an offender 1
Breach of bail0
 Breach of non-molestation order 0
 Breach of the peace 0
 Bullying behaviour 10
 Child cruelty 0
 Child protection failure 1
 Child sexual offence 21
 Coercive or controlling behaviour 11
 Corruption 3
 Criminal damage 2
 Cruelty to an animal 0
 Death by dangerous driving 0
 Discriminatory behaviour 95
 Discriminatory WhatsApp group 45
 Dishonesty 126
 Domestic abuse or harassment 26
 Drink driving 23
 Driving offences 18
 Drug driving 2
 Drugs 44
 Excessive use of force 19
 Extreme pornography 6
 Failure to declare a notifiable association 8
 Failure to supervise or report wrongdoing 8
 False imprisonment 0
 Fraud or forgery 11
 Gambling 0
 Harassment (Other) 19
 Harbouring a child 0
 Inappropriate communications 81
 Inappropriate relations 24
 Indecent images of children 11
Keyboard jamming0
 Kidnap 0
 Malicious communications 2
 Manslaughter 0
 Member of proscribed organisation 0
 Misconduct in public office 24
 Murder 0
 Offensive weapon 3
 Outraging public decency 1
 Perverting or attempt to pervert the course of justice 9
 Possession of firearm 2
 Posting pornographic material onto internet 3
 Powers, policies or procedures 59
 Prohibited weapon 1
 Public order offences 7
 Rape 5
 Refused lawful order 3
 Sexual assault 11
 Sexual communication with a child 2
 Sexual offences or misconduct 72
 Sexual or inappropriate touching 27
 Stalking 11
 Theft 10
 Threatening behaviour 7
 Threats of violence 3
 Unauthorised business interest 9
 Unlawful access or disclosure of information 82
 Unsatisfactory attendance 3
 Unsatisfactory performance 21
 Vetting failure 17
 Voyeurism 1
Total1,149

Special Constabulary

Total Special Constabulary dismissals

The figures in this section relate to members of the Special Constabulary who were placed on the barred list in the reporting period of 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

Table 6: Special Constabulary officers placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025

ForceDismissed while servingDismissed post-resignationDismissed post-retirementTotal
Avon and Somerset0101
Bedfordshire1001
Cambridgeshire0000
Cheshire1001
City of London0000
Cleveland0000
Cumbria0000
Derbyshire0000
Devon and Cornwall0000
Dorset0202
Durham0000
Dyfed-Powys0000
Essex0000
Gloucestershire0101
Greater Manchester0000
Gwent0101
Hampshire and Isle of Wight0000
Hertfordshire0202
Humberside0000
Kent0000
Lancashire0101
Leicestershire1102
Lincolnshire0000
Merseyside0101
Metropolitan4105
Norfolk1001
North Wales0000
North Yorkshire0000
Northamptonshire0000
Northumbria0000
Nottinghamshire0101
South Wales0101
South Yorkshire0000
Staffordshire0101
Suffolk0000
Surrey0000
Sussex0000
Thames Valley0202
Warwickshire0404
West Mercia0000
West Midlands1001
West Yorkshire0011
Wiltshire0101
All forces921131

In total, 223 Special Constabulary have been added to the barred list between its introduction on 15 December 2017 and the end of this reporting period on 31 March 2025. This is broken down by force in table 7.

Table 7: Special Constabulary officers placed on the barred list by force per reporting periods.

ForceDec 2017 - Mar 20202020-212021-222022-232023-242024-25Total
Avon and Somerset2312019
Bedfordshire1102015
Cambridgeshire0130004
Cheshire1001114
City of London0001001
Cleveland0010203
Cumbria0000000
Derbyshire1010103
Devon and Cornwall40222010
Dorset0110024
Durham0000000
Dyfed-Powys0110103
Essex22413012
Gloucestershire1000012
Greater Manchester4122009
Gwent0000011
Hampshire and Isle of Wight1110003
Hertfordshire0100124
Humberside3110106
Kent2200004
Lancashire0100012
Leicestershire2110026
Lincolnshire3011005
Merseyside2020116
Metropolitan182595544
Norfolk0010012
North Wales0001304
North Yorkshire0000101
Northamptonshire53231014
Northumbria1000001
Nottinghamshire0320218
South Wales1220016
South Yorkshire0001001
Staffordshire2000114
Suffolk0000000
Surrey0002002
Sussex0000000
Thames Valley3012129
Warwickshire0210047
West Mercia0000000
West Midlands0000112
West Yorkshire3002117
Wiltshire1012015
All forces632937342931223

Outcomes by Special Constabulary rank

Table 8: Ranks of Special Constabulary officers placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025

RankDismissed while servingDismissed post-resignationDismissed post-retirementTotal
Constable817126
Sergeant1203
Inspector0202
Chief inspector0000
Superintendent0000
Chief Superintendent0000
Chief officer0000
All ranks921131

Breaches of standards of professional behaviour

Table 9 presents the different breaches of the standards of professional behaviour, as outlined in Schedule 2 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, that were recorded for the dismissals of Special Constabulary officers.

The number of reasons recorded (58) was greater than the number of officers dismissed (31), because several breaches of the standards of professional behaviour can be recorded for a single dismissal.

All categories were based on descriptions of the misconduct found at the hearing and reported to the College.

Table 9: Categories of the breaches of the SPB by Special Constabulary officers placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025

Standards of professional behaviour breachedNumber of instances
 Authority, respect and courtesy 6
 Challenging and reporting improper behaviour 1
 Confidentiality 5
 Discreditable conduct 26
 Duties and responsibilities 2
 Equality and diversity 2
 Fitness for work 0
 Honesty and integrity 11
 Orders and instructions 4
 Unsatisfactory attendance 0
 Unsatisfactory performance 0
 Use of force 1
 Total 58

Reasons for Special Constabulary dismissals

Table 10 presents the categories that were recorded for the dismissal of Special Constabulary officers. Categories will change yearly based on the misconduct reported.

The number of reasons recorded (44) was greater than the number of officers dismissed (31) because some categories overlapped into others. All categories were based on descriptions of the conduct that were reported to the College.

Year-on-year breaches have not been added, as categories change. See previous annual reports with this information.

Table 10: Categories of dismissal for Special Constabulary officers placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 

Categories of dismissalNumber of instances
 Absent without authority 0
 Abuse of authority 1
 Abuse of position for sexual purpose 1
 Alcohol-related behaviour 0
 Animal cruelty 0
 Assault (domestic) 2
 Assault (other) 2
 Assisting an offender 1
Breach of bail0
 Breach of non-molestation order 0
 Breach of the peace 0
 Bullying behaviour 0
 Child cruelty 0
 Child protection failure 0
 Child sexual offence 1
 Coercive or controlling behaviour 0
 Corruption 0
 Criminal damage 1
 Cruelty to an animal 0
 Death by dangerous driving 0
 Discriminatory behaviour 3
 Discriminatory WhatsApp group 1
 Dishonesty 6
 Domestic abuse or harassment 0
 Drink driving 1
 Driving offences 1
 Drug driving 1
 Drugs 2
 Excessive use of force 0
 Extreme pornography 0
 Failure to declare a notifiable association 1
 Failure to supervise or report wrongdoing 1
 False imprisonment 0
 Fraud or forgery 0
 Gambling 0
 Harassment (other) 2
 Harbouring a child 0
 Inappropriate communications 2
 Inappropriate relations 2
 Indecent images of children 2
Keyboard jamming0
 Kidnap 0
 Malicious communications 0
 Manslaughter 0
 Member of proscribed organisation 0
 Misconduct in public office 0
 Murder 0
 Offensive weapon 1
 Outraging public decency 0
 Perverting or attempt to pervert the course of justice 0
 Possession of firearm 0
 Posting pornographic material onto internet 0
 Powers, policies or procedures 1
 Prohibited weapon 0
 Public order offences 0
 Rape 0
 Refused lawful order 1
 Sexual assault 0
 Sexual communication with a child 0
 Sexual offences or misconduct 4
 Sexual or inappropriate touching 0
 Stalking 0
 Theft 0
 Threatening behaviour 0
 Threats of violence 0
 Unauthorised business interest 0
 Unlawful access or disclosure of information 3
 Unsatisfactory attendance 0
 Unsatisfactory performance 0
 Vetting failure 0
 Voyeurism 0
Total44

Police staff

Total police staff dismissals

Table 11: Police staff placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025

ForceDismissed while servingDismissed post-resignationDismissed post-retirementTotal
Avon and Somerset711220
Bedfordshire2204
Cambridgeshire2103
Cheshire0101
City of London0000
Cleveland3003
Cumbria0101
Derbyshire3104
Devon and Cornwall3205
Dorset2103
Durham1102
Dyfed-Powys2103
Essex5207
Gloucestershire92011
Greater Manchester89017
Gwent1102
Hampshire and Isle of Wight74011
Hertfordshire3306
Humberside1203
Kent4509
Lancashire3003
Leicestershire2305
Lincolnshire5106
Merseyside3407
Metropolitan284032
Norfolk5106
North Wales3003
North Yorkshire1001
Northamptonshire0101
Northumbria84012
Nottinghamshire1203
South Wales55010
South Yorkshire2002
Staffordshire0303
Suffolk1001
Surrey6309
Sussex3104
Thames Valley3508
Warwickshire1203
West Mercia4307
West Midlands68014
West Yorkshire612018
Wiltshire3407
All forces1621162280

In total, 1,268 members of police staff have been added to the barred list between its introduction on 15 December 2017 and the end of this reporting period on 31 March 2025. This is broken down by force in table 12.

Table 12: Police staff placed on the barred list by force per reporting periods

ForceDec 2017 - Mar 20202020-212021-222022-232023-242024-25Total
Avon and Somerset191057112072
Bedfordshire23206417
Cambridgeshire2110138
Cheshire24334117
City of London1100204
Cleveland11032310
Cumbria3301119
Derbyshire40245419
Devon and Cornwall62016520
Dorset22382320
Durham2002127
Dyfed-Powys2001238
Essex10101053745
Gloucestershire111251121
Greater Manchester1151115151774
Gwent1001125
Hampshire and Isle of Wight946321135
Hertfordshire82344627
Humberside159572341
Kent1814375956
Lancashire1112038
Leicestershire131054528
Lincolnshire22428624
Merseyside1288410749
Metropolitan271114183232134
Norfolk31016617
North Wales32102311
North Yorkshire3100015
Northamptonshire33332115
Northumbria764361238
Nottinghamshire89634333
South Wales422771032
South Yorkshire85434226
Staffordshire13012310
Suffolk82128122
Surrey24118925
Sussex1169313446
Thames Valley96397842
Warwickshire24312315
West Mercia102343729
West Midlands3111310121463
West Yorkshire10451071854
Wiltshire41546727
All forces2731671451702332801,268

Breaches of standards of professional behaviour

Table 13 presents the different breaches of the standards of professional behaviour, as outlined in the Police Staff Council joint circular no. 54, that were recorded for the dismissal of police staff.

The number of reasons recorded (533) was greater than the number of staff members dismissed (280), because several breaches could have been recorded for each dismissal. All categories are based on descriptions of the misconduct found at the hearing and reported to the College.

Table 13: Categories of the breaches of the standards of professional behaviour by police staff placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025

Standards of professional behaviour breachedNumber of instances
 Authority, respect and courtesy 80
 Challenging and reporting improper behaviour 5
 Confidentiality 38
 Discreditable conduct 186
 Duties and responsibilities 28
 Equality and diversity 37
 Fitness for work 17
 Honesty and integrity 91
 Orders and instructions 30
 Unsatisfactory attendance 11
 Unsatisfactory performance 8
 Use of force 2
Total533

Reasons for police staff dismissals

Table 14 presents the categories that were recorded for the dismissal of police staff. Categories will change yearly based on the misconduct reported.

The number of reasons recorded (397) was greater than the number of police staff dismissed (280) because some categories overlapped into others. All categories were based on descriptions of the conduct that were reported to the College.

Year-on-year breaches have not been added, as categories change. See previous annual reports with this information.

Table 14: Categories of dismissal for police staff placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 

Categories of dismissalNumber of instances
 Absent without authority 2
 Abuse of authority 3
 Abuse of position for sexual purpose 11
 Alcohol-related behaviour 8
 Animal cruelty 0
 Assault (domestic) 7
 Assault (other) 16
 Assisting an offender 0
Breach of bail0
 Breach of non-molestation order 0
 Breach of the peace 0
 Bullying behaviour 13
 Child cruelty 0
 Child protection failure 0
 Child sexual offence 5
 Coercive or controlling behaviour 2
 Corruption 0
 Criminal damage 6
 Cruelty to an animal 1
 Death by dangerous driving 0
 Discriminatory behaviour 31
 Discriminatory WhatsApp group 9
 Dishonesty 42
 Domestic abuse or harassment 6
 Drink driving 10
 Driving offences 4
 Drug driving 0
 Drugs 15
 Excessive use of force 1
 Extreme pornography 0
 Failure to declare a notifiable association 9
 Failure to supervise or report wrongdoing 2
 False imprisonment 0
 Fraud or forgery 3
 Gambling 0
 Harassment (other) 5
 Harbouring a child 0
 Inappropriate communications 29
 Inappropriate relations 7
 Indecent images of children 4
Keyboard jamming0
 Kidnap 0
 Malicious communications 1
 Manslaughter 0
 Member of proscribed organisation 0
 Misconduct in public office 2
 Murder 0
 Offensive weapon 3
 Outraging public decency 1
 Perverting or attempt to pervert the course of justice 3
 Possession of firearm 1
 Posting pornographic material onto internet 0
 Power, policies or procedures 17
 Prohibited weapon 2
 Public order offences 2
 Rape 1
 Refused lawful order 0
 Sexual assault 2
 Sexual communication with a child 0
 Sexual offences or misconduct 18
 Sexual or inappropriate touching 9
 Stalking 2
 Theft 6
 Threatening behaviour 3
 Threats of violence 2
 Unauthorised business interest 1
 Unlawful access or disclosure of information 40
 Unsatisfactory attendance 14
 Unsatisfactory performance 11
 Vetting failure 5
 Voyeurism 0
Total397

Ethnicity and gender of dismissed officers and staff

The figures presented in the following tables summarise the information sent by police forces to the College on the protected characteristics of officers and staff placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

The 'not recorded’ field relates to data that was not provided to the College. 

Table 15: The ethnicity of those placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 

EthnicityPolice officers and Special ConstabularyPolice staffTotal
 Black/black British or other minority ethnic background 12540165
 White background 641240881
 Total 7662801,046

Table 16: The gender of those placed on the barred list between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 

GenderPolice officers and Special ConstabularyPolice staffTotal
 Prefer to self-describe 101
 Female  13399232
 Male 632181813
 Total 7662801,046

Publication of information

The legislation requires the College to publish specified information in relation to officers and former officers (including members of the Special Constabulary) who are dismissed for gross misconduct, as outlined in The Police Barred List and Police Advisory List Regulations 2017. The legislation does not provide for the publication of specified information relating to police staff members who are similarly dismissed.

The College must not publish any of the specified information, if to publish some or all of that information:

  • would be against the interest of national security
  • might prejudice the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offence or any civil proceedings
  • would result in a significant risk of harm to any person

Of the 766 regular police officers and members of the Special Constabulary placed on the barred list in this reporting period following a gross misconduct dismissal, 24 officers were granted exemptions relating to the points above. 

23 of these names will be published in the future following the conclusion of criminal/civil proceedings where there is no longer a risk of prejudice.

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