An off-duty police officer who acted ‘aggressively’ towards members of the public after being assaulted on a night out has been handed a final written warning.
PC David Barton attended a gross misconduct hearing at Force HQ on Monday 7 July, which concluded on Thursday 10 July.
The hearing was open to both the press and the public.
The hearing heard how PC Barton was on a night out with family and friends when he was assaulted by an unknown male.
The incident happened outside the Gilt Restaurant in Market Street in Bingham just after 10pm in August 2023 and was captured on CCTV.
PC Barton then followed the man, pushing aside two members of the public who were trying to deescalate the situation, before grappling with his attacker.
During the commotion a member of the public was headbutted.
PC Barton denied headbutting a member of the public stating that he was acting in self-defence when under attack by a group.
The panel found that he was not acting in self-defence but did accept that PC Barton would have perceived a serious threat to him at stages during the incident having initially been attacked for no apparent reason.
The hearing also heard that PC Barton, later that evening, made telephone calls to Nottinghamshire Police’s control room to report the incident.
The panel found that one of those calls was misleading to downplay his actions.
The hearing heard that PC Barton had breached the following standards of professional behaviour – honesty and integrity, use of force, and discreditable conduct.
The panel – made up of Assistant Chief Constable Gary Hooks and two independent panel members – found PC Barton guilty of gross misconduct.
He was handed a final written warning which will be on his record for the next five years.
ACC Hooks said after the hearing: “Quite rightly, the public have high expectations of police officers, on and off duty; these are set out in our standards of professional behaviour
“PC Barton’s actions fell below these standards, despite the provocation he should have demonstrated more restraint and should have been more transparent in reporting his actions.
“His actions, in that short period very nearly cost him his career, which is otherwise unblemished 24 years dedicated public service.”
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