Policewoman who slapped boy, 15, whilst on duty sacked by misconduct panel
A veteran police officer who slapped a 15-year-old boy in the face while on duty has been sacked.
PC Nicola Voke-Williams faced a misconduct panel having already lost an appeal against her conviction for assault. The Durham officer, with 21 years experience, was caught on camera slapping the teenager across the face. She had attended an incident in the town centre, after reports of a large group of youths who had arranged a fight with weapons and glass bottles.
Teesside Crown Court previously heard how Voke-Williams had arrived with another female officer but their car started to roll with the handbrake off and the youths were reported to have laughed at them, with one allegedly shouting "useless". She initially claimed she thought the boy was about to spit in her face, but the boy told the court he had puckered his lips and blown her a kiss.
Last month her appeal was dismissed by a judge and she was given a six-month suspended discharge, ordered to pay £50 compensation and court costs of around £425. After the appeal, detective chief inspector Yvonne Dutson, from Durham Police's professional standards department, said: "This officer was suspended while an investigation was carried out and they shall now face misconduct proceedings. The public and Durham Constabulary quite rightly expect the highest of standards from our officers and staff at all times, and the actions of this officer fell short of those standards."
The officer was caught on camera (Durham Police/ Teesside Crown Court/ CPS)
She was convicted of assault (Durham Police/ Teesside Crown Court/ CPS)The misconduct document read: "In February 2022, whilst a serving Police Constable has been on duty, they assaulted a 15-year-old boy by striking him across the face, the incident being subsequently heard at Magistrates Court at which time the Police Constable was found guilty of the offence of assault. These actions are deemed to have breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to ‘’Discreditable Conduct”, namely that a Police Officer will behave in a manner, whether on or off duty, which does not bring discredit on the Police Service or undermine public confidence in policing. It is further alleged that these failings individually and/or cumulatively amount to Gross Misconduct."
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At the hearing, which the officer did not attend in person due to ill health, panel considered whether the actions of the officer breached professional standards. The panel noted Voke-Williams' lack of remorse as she had pleaded her innocence and appealed her conviction.
A Durham Constabulary spokesman said: “As a result of her court conviction for assault, PC Voke-Williams faced an accelerated misconduct hearing where she was alleged to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour - discreditable conduct and therefore her case was heard at an accelerated hearing. That hearing took place on Tuesday, September 19 in her absence. PC Voke-Williams’ actions were found to amount to gross misconduct and she was dismissed from service”.
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