Northumbria Police officer ‘abusive’ while drunk in public

A Northumbria police misconduct panel ruled that PC Sheri Passant breached professional standards after being argumentative, agitated and abusive while intoxicated in a public place.

The hearing, held on November 11, 2025, examined events on March 2, 2024, which were captured on body worn video and supported by witness statements.

The panel found the officer could properly have been arrested for an offence of drunk and disorderly.

According to the report, the officer was involved in confrontations with a taxi driver, a taxi marshal and attending police officers.

The panel found she “was drunk and was argumentative, agitated and abusive” and that she ignored repeated warnings to desist.

The conduct took place in public, late at night, with at least two members of the public directly involved.

The report states that PC Passant identified herself as a police officer during the incident.

While the panel accepted this was “for the purpose of seeking to assure the driver that she would pay” and “not to achieve any advantage”, it found the effect was to expose the public to “a police officer behaving in a manner unbecoming of the position”.

The taxi marshal’s statement was highlighted by the panel, noting that he was “clearly” surprised by the behaviour and that he “wouldn’t expect that type of behaviour from an officer”.

While the panel accepted this was “for the purpose of seeking to assure the driver that she would pay” and “not to achieve any advantage”, it found the effect was to expose the public to “a police officer behaving in a manner unbecoming of the position”.

The taxi marshal’s statement was highlighted by the panel, noting that he was “clearly” surprised by the behaviour and that he “wouldn’t expect that type of behaviour from an officer”.

The panel also found the officer breached the standard of honesty and integrity by lying to colleagues about her drinking.

The report states the officer “told the officers she wasn’t drunk and didn’t drink” and later admitted this was untrue.

The panel concluded she “did act without integrity, which amounted to not doing the right thing”.

In assessing seriousness, the panel said its role was “to maintain public confidence and the reputation of the police service, to uphold high standards in policing and deter misconduct, to protect the public”.

It concluded the harm was not merely theoretical. “Conduct of a police officer of this nature is likely to – and in this case – has undermined confidence in policing,” the report states.

While no physical harm was caused, the panel said culpability was high and that public confidence was the principal harm engaged. It found the proven conduct amounted to gross misconduct.

Despite this, the panel imposed a final written warning for five years rather than dismissal.

The report states the length of the warning “reflects the panels assessment of seriousness, will act as a deterrent to others in terms of both this type of conduct and subsequent efforts to shift blame, as well as demonstrating to the public that Northumbria Police will always strive to maintain high standards”.