Former officer would have been dismissed if he hadn’t already resigned

A gross misconduct hearing held today (Friday 20 June 2025) found that a former West Mercia Police officer would have been dismissed from the force had he not already resigned.

The hearing found that the actions of Christopher Sargeant, 55, a PC who was previously based in Market Drayton, amounted to gross misconduct and seriously breached the following standards, as set out in the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020: 

1. Honesty and integrity
2. Discreditable conduct
3. Duties and responsibilities

The hearing, chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Grant Wills, heard that on or around 10 November 2022 Sargeant made a false entry in his police issue pocket notebook. The entry claimed that the victim of a crime did not wish there to be any further police action. This was false, and it was also found that Sargeant had forged the victim’s signature on the statement.

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Jones, said: “The dishonesty and total lack of integrity shown by Christopher Sargeant is inexcusable. He abused his power as a police officer, and in the process totally undermined the trust which the victim had placed in the force when reporting the crime.

“His actions were totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated within our force.”

Sargeant will now be added to the College of Policing’s Barred List, banning him from working for a UK police service in the future.

The hearing is subject to the usual appeals process.