A serving British Transport Police (BTP) officer has been convicted of drink driving, following an investigation by Nottinghamshire Police.
PC Karl Palmer, 54, was found guilty of Driving Whilst Over the Prescribed Limit of Alcohol last Thursday (9 October) following a trial at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that at 10.20pm on Tuesday 28 May 2024, the vehicle PC Palmer was driving in Blidworth crashed through a wall and was left precariously balancing 5ft above the road below.
Officers from Nottinghamshire Police attended the scene and PC Palmer stated he believed the handbrake had failed causing the accident.
He was required to provide a roadside breath test and gave a reading of 68, which is almost double that of the legal limit. Officers arrested him and took him to custody where he provided two further readings.
PC Palmer has been on restricted duties since the incident.
He is due to be sentenced on Friday 7 November 2025.
ACC Charlie Doyle said ” Any conviction of a serving police officer undermines the public confidence in policing. Police officers are entrusted to uphold the law and this trust is diminished when they break the law.
“Drink driving is a serious offence. The level of intoxication and the risk of harm which may have been caused to the public, and PC Palmer himself, was significant.
“I do not tolerate this behaviour of any of our officers or staff. This will now be considered for internal disciplinary proceedings.”