News Beat
Former North Yorkshire Police student barred from job
After Brogan Canning’s colleague turned down her advances on a night out, she blurted ‘do you think I’m fit?’
A misconduct hearing, held virtually on October 17, heard how Canning had pulled her former tutor’s head towards her and tried lunging in for a kiss, leaving the officer feeling “anger and embarrassment”.
The former North Yorkshire Police student police constable’s career has come to an end, after the force ruled that she would have been sacked if she had not already quit.
In her written statement, Canning described her antics as “out-of-character”.
“Notwithstanding her lack of memory, the officer did not dispute the allegations,” states a report.
“She had been good friends with (the male officer) previously and did not provide any reason to doubt his honesty or assertions.
“She had drunk a significant amount of alcohol, which had impaired her judgment on the night and her subsequent recollection of events.
“She was remorseful from the outset and has extended her personal apologies to him.”
The virtual hearing considered four allegations that Canning had attempted to kiss PC A, a more senior officer, grabbed him by the back of the neck, pulled his head towards hers, touched his upper thigh or groin area, and repeatedly told him “you know you want to” before asking, “do you think I’m fit?”
One witness, Nathan Mills, described watching her “stroking the hand” of the male officer, who later told Mills that she’d actually been stroking his leg.
Another, PC Megan Smith, recalled Canning “acting oddly throughout the night” before putting Canning in a taxi home.
The male officer immediately told PC Smith about what happened, and in his evidence, told the hearing that he “had expected more professional behaviour” from Canning, who quit the force after an investigation was launched.
While Canning suggested there may have been “some inconsistencies” in the witness statements, the panel ruled her actions equated to gross misconduct.
The panel, which assessed the case on written evidence only after both sides agreed that no witnesses were required, found statements from PC A and colleagues PC Nathan Mills, PC Megan Smith and PS Ryan Lyth to be credible.
“An unwanted sexual approach towards PC A amounts to victimising and offensive behaviour and therefore, is a breach of the standard,” the misconduct panel added.
“This matter concerns multiple breaches of the standards and clearly could have an impact on public confidence in policing and the reputation of the police service,” said assistant chief officer (ACO) Sarah Jackson, who chaired the virtual hearing.
“We therefore have concluded that the most appropriate outcome is a finding that the officer would have been dismissed had they still been a member of the police force and that this sanction does fulfil the purpose of the misconduct regime.
“We do note that before these matters, the former officer was of good character and did show remorse for their actions; however, this record would not allow us to impose a lesser outcome, given the serious nature of our findings.”
The ruling also means Canning is placed on the police barred list, preventing her from serving with a UK police force again.
