A former police constable who only had basic driver training would have been dismissed after activating the blue lights on his vehicle on a number of occasions.
PC Oliver Lewis would have been dismissed had he not resigned from Nottinghamshire Police ahead of his Accelerated Misconduct Hearing.
The hearing was held on Friday 12 September at Sherwood Lodge Force HQ.
The hearing was open to both the press and the public.
The hearing heard how PC Lewis, who has served with the police since May 2022, had only passed his basic driver training.
This meant that he should not respond to emergency incidents using blue lights or audible warning equipment or claim exemptions to traffic legislation.
He had been warned on numerous occasions about the manner of his driving.
This included a written warning on December 16, 2024, for activating blue lights and driving over the speed limit when he did not have the relevant training.
On February 15, 2025, PC Lewis drove from Riverside Police Station to attend an incident where a man was refusing to leave a licensed premise in the city centre.
The hearing heard that PC Lewis drove through a red traffic light, a pedestrian crossing and activated blue lights when he did not have the authority to do so.
Nottinghamshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate carried out a thorough investigation and found that the officer breached the following standards of behaviour – discreditable conduct and orders and instructions.
The hearing heard that the former officer took “full responsibility for his actions” and described his behaviour as “short-sighted” rather than with ill-intent or malice.
Temporary Chief Constable Steve Cooper, who chaired the misconduct hearing, found him guilty of gross misconduct.
He said:
“This officer has shown a complete disregard to prior warnings.
“His conduct was repeated and persistent and it occurred even after he knew that it was wrong. These policies are in place to protect officers and the public and there is absolutely no justification in why he decided to ignore them.
“This conduct undermines public trust and confidence and therefore there is no other option than have dismissed him from the police force had he not already resigned.”
