News
Police officer hit with disciplinary action after pulling a sickie to go and watch the races
Local authorities said they 'will not tolerate behaviour that undermines the integrity of the force and brings the hard work of the many into disrepute.'
A British police officer has been charged with gross misconduct after pulling a sickie in order to go and watch the horse racing.
Former PC Kiara Wealls called in sick when she was due to work a late shift on 24 June this year, only to have been found at the races and embroiled in an “altercation” with other members of the public.
Wealls, who resigned a month later, attended the event at Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk with a group of friends and was ultimately reported back to the Essex Police force following her behaviour.
Following a hearing, she was found to have breached standards of discreditable conduct and would have been dismissed following the disciplinary action had she not already resigned.
Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, who oversaw the hearing, said in a statement: “When a member of Essex Police needs to report sick because they are unwell there is rightly trust and understanding that they will use this period to get well to return to duty.
“Ms Wealls abused this trust and attended a social event with friends.
“Essex Police will support staff who are ill, but we will not tolerate behaviour that undermines the integrity of the force and brings the hard work of the many into disrepute.”
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Moreover, it would seem that beyond racehorses passing the finishing posts, there have been other law enforcement crossing the thin blue line as similar controversy was sparked at Newmarket back in 2016.
34-year-old PC David Parker, based out of Bow, east London, was caught being abusive to staff and colleagues at a stag do, before resisting arrest and finally being sacked.
We know everyone’s pulled a sickie in their time but it’s not exactly the best advert for UK police, is it?
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Featured Image — Wikimedia Commons
News
Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre
Daisy Jackson
Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
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Featured image: The Manc Group
News
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
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“Help us be a lifeline to organisations on the frontline,” Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity urged in it’s public appeal for donations.
You can help make sure ‘A Bed Every Night’ is a reality for all by donating here.
Featured Image – EthelRedThePetrolHead (via Flickr)
Danny Jones -
25th October 2022 
