Undercover officer keeps job despite injuring public

An undercover officer with Kent Police has kept his job despite being convicted of seriously injuring two people in a car crash.

The officer, known as Officer A, was convicted last year after crashing his unmarked police car into another vehicle while driving on the A28 at Tenterden on 30 November, 2023.

A misconduct hearing on Thursday was told the officer had become distracted while on duty after the cable from his police radio microphone got caught beneath the pedals in his car.

Officer A, who suffered a broken nose and facial injuries in the collision, admitted gross misconduct and was given a final written warning to stay on his record for two years.

Officer A's identity has been protected as he still holds an undercover role with Kent Police.

On 30 October 2024, the officer pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving and was ordered to pay a fine of £1,115, a victim surcharge of £446 and court costs of £85.

At the misconduct hearing in Maidstone, Mark Aldred, representing the officer, said he had always accepted responsibility for his actions.

The hearing was told that despite his own injuries, Officer A tended to the injured driver and injured passenger in the car his vehicle crashed into.

Mr Aldred said some instances of misconduct should be resolved with a final written warning, adding: "If this isn't one of those cases, then it's hard to imagine one that is."

The counsel for Kent Police also agreed that the "unique" situation warrants a sanction which falls short of dismissal, while highlighting the officer's "unblemished record".

Before giving his verdict, the chairman of the hearing, Chief Constable Tim Smith, said he had "not seen much in the way of remorse" from Officer A, who replied: "I am very aware of the impact that I had on their lives."

However, Mr Smith noted that the officer had shown a high degree of professionalism by caring for the people he had injured at the scene.

He said: "They are unequivocal in their support for the officer and say he was just doing his job."

Handing down his decision of a final written warning, Mr Smith accepted that the incident would affect the public perception of the police, as public safety was not upheld.

He went on to say the officer was "highly skilled" and "works day in, day out to protect the public from the most serious form of harm".

"I see no use for dismissing Officer A," he concluded.

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