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West Midlands – Complex Misconduct Case
Introduction
In August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Detective Constable (DC) Paul Knowles was reported to the Professional Standards Department (PSD) and subsequently investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). This led to a prolonged and complex misconduct process.
In May 2022, misconduct proceedings resulted in Paul’s dismissal. However, with the assistance of the West Midlands Police Federation representatives and a legal team, Paul successfully appealed in March 2023, highlighting inaccuracies in the prosecution case, which led to him regaining his job. Despite this, Paul was unable to return to work and entered the Ill-Health Retirement (IHR) process, officially leaving the organisation on 30 October 2024. He is now being supported through the Injury on Duty process.
Description
In August 2020, while on duty and working on an Organised Crime Group (OCG) murder investigation, Paul made an investigative decision to use his personal phone to share images and nominal details with his Gang Investigation team. This was intended to assist with locating suspects, preserving evidence, saving lives, and recovering a firearm.
This decision was later criticised by line management and led to an extended misconduct investigation by PSD and the IOPC, which lasted nearly two years.
In May 2022, following a misconduct hearing, Paul was dismissed for breaching the social media policy and accused of dishonesty. The panel suggested that he had attempted to hide his actions. Media coverage portrayed Paul as dishonest and accused him of jeopardising his team’s work, which significantly impacted his mental health.
Resolution
In March 2023, with the support of the Police Federation and legal representation, Paul successfully appealed the guilty finding of dishonesty. He was reinstated as a detective within West Midlands Police (WMP).
The appeal demonstrated that Paul had not acted dishonestly and that his breach of policy was unintentional, motivated by a genuine desire to assist in securing the arrest, charge, and conviction of the murder suspects. The appeal panel also acknowledged that critical evidence, which would have exonerated Paul, had not been presented or considered during the initial investigation.
Outcome
Following Paul’s reinstatement, there was a delay in finding him a suitable posting and completing the administrative process for his return. Federation representatives advocated on his behalf to secure a posting, confirm supervision arrangements, clarify annual leave entitlements, and obtain back pay and compensation for lost overtime. These were successfully negotiated.
Additionally, WMP Federation requested a legal review to assess whether claims could be pursued regarding the handling of the misconduct investigation.
Federation representatives also identified significant concerns about Paul’s psychological wellbeing. They arranged for talking therapy and later a psychiatric assessment, which diagnosed Paul with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Post-Traumatic Embitterment Disorder (PTED) as a result of the misconduct process. These conditions led to his retirement on medical grounds, with the Federation continuing to support him throughout this process.
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