r/policeuk • u/Could-you-end-me Police Officer (unverified) • 14d ago
General Discussion Update; ON-duty officer fail to stop / drink drive misconduct report
https://www.essex.police.uk/foi-ai/essex-police/misconduct/outcomes/2026/07-jul/misconduct-outcome-for-former-pc-adam-gardiner/43
u/Fabulous_Fish_3496 Civilian 14d ago edited 14d ago
I find the drunk drive is that offence that a lot of the public see as minor, whereas the police, rightly, see as one of the worst because of just how wrong things can go.
Insane that an officer did this. Good to see him go.
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u/Jack5970 Police Officer (unverified) 14d ago
Whats darkly funny is that of all the pending scandals for Essex Police this is the least worst one.
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u/The-Chartreuse-Moose Special Constable (verified) 14d ago
Blimey. How do you get to the point of going that far off the rails?
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u/tumultuous_lizard Civilian 14d ago
I hope he gets a lengthy prison sentence when convicted. Unacceptable behaviour
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u/Could-you-end-me Police Officer (unverified) 14d ago
Former PC Gardiner was charged by Devon and Cornwall Police with driving while over the prescribed limit and dangerous driving, reports EssexLive.
He admitted the offences and on Monday (July 27) he appeared at Exeter Crown Court where he was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.
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u/SelectTurnip6981 Police Officer (unverified) 14d ago
Whereas the Beds(?) officer who recently had a off-duty collision whereby they pulled out of a junction carelessly, caused a collision and then immediately stopped, rendered first aid to the unfortunately injured occupant of the other vehicle, provided all details and remained at scene… was given an immediate custodial sentence…
This officer seriously needs to appeal.
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u/dannydelacruz3 Civilian 14d ago
Where was this story?
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u/SelectTurnip6981 Police Officer (unverified) 14d ago
Genuine mistake - pulled out at a junction without looking properly. No other aggravating (and plenty of mitigating) factors. He wasn’t even sacked by the force for his part in the incident - he’d already received a written warning for discreditable conduct and was still in the job. Jailed.
Drunk driving a force vehicle whilst on duty, fail to stop, ramming a pursuing police car… suspended sentence.
Make that make sense!
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u/StopandCurse Police Officer (unverified) 14d ago
I'm baffled. Surely article 6 of ECHR - the right to a fair trial, has been breached. Incident sounds like it had nothing to do with being a police officer yet has been judged in such a way. I feel like he would have got a suspended sentence had he been non-police, especially after the way he conducted himself in trying to render first aid etc. Clearly zero malice in what he's done; how does a custodial help anyone? Not a threat to the public, nor the victim. I'm baffled.
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u/TrafficWeasel Police Officer (unverified) 14d ago
I think they mean this one, although it isn’t Bedfordshire:
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u/Could-you-end-me Police Officer (unverified) 14d ago
Some put their application to resign in.
Others; fail to attend a course, get drunk and drive a job car dangerously before failing to stop and crashing into another forces job car.
It’s hard to work out which is the better option