Trainee police officer sacked following ‘excessive and illegal’ use of CS spray

A trainee police officer has been sacked following ‘excessive and illegal’ use of CS spray while trying to break up a pub fight.

 

PC Holt was responding to a fight between up to 30 people at Ye Golden Lion, Market Street, Blackley, just before 11pm on 24 July 2020. 

 

She grabbed the victim as she says she saw him try to take a glass or glass bottle outside and then used her CS spray in an attempt to diffuse the situation. 

 

PC Holt claimed she thought the man was going to attack her with the glass but her accounts outside the pub, in custody and in her report were inconsistent. 

 

The victim was arrested on suspicion of affray but released with no further action in November 2020. 

 

The five-day disciplinary hearing at GMP’s Force HQ found PC Holt's actions breached standards of professional standards of honesty and integrity at a gross misconduct level and she was dismissed without notice. 

 

The panel, led by Legally Qualified Chair Warren Spencer, found that PC Holt’s actions in using CS spray in a confined space and without warning was ‘excessive, and not proportionate, legal or necessary’. 

PC Holt was ultimately dismissed for Use of Force, Operational Honesty and Integrity and Discreditable Conduct.

In reaching its verdict the panel added that PC Holt’s version of the events inside and outside the pub to other officers were ‘untrue, exaggerated and embellished’. 

 

“She discharged her spray with no attempt at communication or instruction, and its use was not necessary, reasonable or proportionate. 

 

“It was also discharged from less than the recommended one metre and the situation did not necessitate it.” 

 

PC Holt had been on restricted duties since the incident and will also be added to the College of Policing Barred List.