Devon and Cornwall PC dismissed after prioritising Homebase trip over emergency call

A police officer has been dismissed for gross misconduct after he went to Homebase instead of immediately responding to an emergency call.

PC Tristan Hankins was dismissed without notice.

A Devon and Cornwall Police misconduct panel found that on 2 June 2020 he decided to go to Homebase to pick up a hot tub mat while on duty. 

He had purchased a hot tub for his wife, who had 'suffered a distressing medical issue' at the end of May the same year, to help her recuperate - but the missing mat meant that water spilled onto the floor. He contacted Homebase, who said it would be available to collect over the next 48 hours. 

Whilst he was setting off towards the shop, he got an emergency call on his police radio about a young female with mental health difficulties who was threatening suicide. 

Instead of responding to the call immediately, PC Hankins told the control room he would be free 'very very shortly' and went to collect the mat from Homebase, meaning that he arrived at the incident between five and 10 minutes later than he otherwise would have done.

The panel concluded that no actual harm was caused, but the young female was in danger and could have come to harm as a result of his delay, saying 'it could quite literally have made the difference between life and death'.

In mitigation, the panel recognised that it was a time of personal stress and difficulty for PC Hankins and he had an unblemished service record. He was also given credit for admitting to the gross misconduct. 

However, it said that there was little to no evidence of remorse or understanding of what he had done in his demeanour in front of the panel, and that the video recording of his interview was 'frankly embarrassing'. 

Head of Professional Standards, Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell said: "We expect our officers to uphold the standards of professional behaviour at all times and the actions of the officer fell below these standards on this occasion.

"He did not fulfil his duties and responsibilities and his behaviour brought discredit upon the police service and could undermine public confidence.

"Such behaviour will not be tolerated within policing and the decision made by the panel was that the officer should be dismissed without notice."