Ex-PC 'would have been sacked' after drink-driving

A former police officer who admitted drink-driving while off-duty committed gross misconduct and would have been sacked if she was still serving, a panel ruled.

Tamsin Raines, previously a police constable with Norfolk Police, was disqualified from driving after getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.

The 51-year-old, from King’s Lynn, pleaded guilty to the offence at Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court on 11 September after retiring from the force nine days earlier.

An accelerated misconduct hearing concluded that had the former officer remained a serving officer then "she would have been dismissed".

Raines was stopped by on-duty police officers at about 22:15 BST on 20 July during a routine traffic stop in Wereham while in her personal car.

After failing a roadside breathalyser test she was transported to King’s Lynn Police Investigation Centre, where she provided a sample of blood for analysis.

The results showed Raines had 119mgs of alcohol per 100ml in her blood, which was above the legal limit of 80mgs per 100ml of blood.

After pleading guilty to a charge of drink-driving she was disqualified from driving for 14 months, fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £48.

Deputy Chief Constable Simon Megicks said: "When people commit a drink-driving offence they are putting other people at risk, as well as themselves.

"The public have the right to expect the police service will not tolerate its officers committing criminal acts.

"Where such conduct is found we will take action."

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