Pc sacked for 'witness intimidation' and going to gym during work hours

EMMA DONNELLY HAS BEEN DISMISSED FROM DURHAM CONSTABULARY FOLLOWING A MISCONDUCT HEARING IN APRIL 01:00, 15 May 2025 A lying Durham police officer who "intimidated" a witness and

went to the gym during work hours has been sacked from the force. PC Emma Donnelly lied to a tutor and claimed she had an "issue" at home which prevented her from answering work

calls, but instead went to the gym. She later sent "hurtful and offensive messages" to someone she believed was a witness after being given disclosure of an ongoing misconduct

investigation. A misconduct hearing held at Peterlee Police Office in April found Donnelly breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct, honesty and

integrity, duties and responsibilities. She has now been dismissed from Durham Constabulary. The hearing was told that on April 25 last year Donnelly lied when informing her tutor that she

had an issue at home which would prevent her from answering any TEAMS calls. But there was no issue, and she instead visited a gym between 9.30am and 10.30am. Months later, on August 28,

Donnelly sent "hurtful and offensive messages" to someone she suspected was a witness in a misconduct investigation. She had previously been provided with pre-interview disclosure

in relation to the on-going investigation. The hearing was told that Donnelly had also been provided with information by the Professional Standards Department regarding a third party. But on

March 11 last year, she dishonestly informed the department they knew minimal information about the third party when in fact Donnelly was aware of more information. Article continues below

She also failed to declare a Notifiable Association in March 2024, and after contact on April 26 by the Professional Standards Department, she failed to declare any change in circumstances,

including for an upcoming vetting review. The hearing found that Donnelly's behaviour in all the allegations was "intentional, deliberate" and - in allegation four -

"targeted". A hearing outcome report said: "Based on my factual findings that the officer acted dishonestly in allegations one, two and three and akin to witness intimidation

in allegation four, I find that the officer’s misconduct engages two of the 'especially serious' criteria of culpable behaviour. First the officer’s acts of dishonesty were

criminal in nature. "Second, while I do not find that this was a case of operational dishonesty, I do find dishonesty. The public rightly expect to be able to trust the police officers

who serve them. Police officers are rightly held to higher standards, the bare minimum requirement for a police officer is that they are expected to be honest. PC Donnelly has repeatedly

shown that she is dishonest." It was found that Donnelly's behaviour "risked damaging the standing and reputation of Durham Constabulary" and that the harm caused by her

was high. In conclusion, the hearing found Donnelly's misconduct was "very serious". Donnelly was dismissed without notice will be entered on to the police barred list.

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