A FORMER police officer will be barred from policing after he was found to have made up parts of a witness statement.

Former PC Paul Shearsby was found guilty of gross misconduct after a panel examined allegations against him. 

Shearsby submitted his resignation in January and left the force in February.

However, the officer’s actions were judged so serious that, had he still been a serving police officer, he would have been dismissed.

The hearing was told that on March 3 last year, the former officer prepared a written witness statement for a woman in which he altered facts to give the impression she had been the operator of a video camera when she had not.

The video camera had captured evidence relevant to the case.

The panel found that the conduct of former PC Shearsby, who served in west Cumbria, amounted to breaches of the standards of professional behaviour in respect of honesty and integrity, duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct - resulting in a finding of gross misconduct.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "We expect the highest standards of all of our officers and staff. However, it is clear that, on the occasion in question, the individual fell well short of these standards.

"Whilst any suggestion of a police officer altering facts to give a false impression is cause for great concern, we are encouraged that the matter was quickly identified and properly raised as a matter of concern by colleagues.

"Although the officer had already resigned from their role, the public finding of gross misconduct will result in them being added to the barred list – meaning the individual will be prevented from becoming a police officer elsewhere.

"Whilst we can assure people the overwhelming majority of our officers and staff perform their duties on behalf of the people of Cumbria with the utmost professionalism, it is the Constabulary’s hope that today’s outcome will demonstrate that, where officers and staff fail to meet the standards expected of them, they are held accountable.

"Finally, Cumbria Police would like to thank the panel, and in particular the Independent Legally Qualified Chair, for their thoroughness and diligence throughout this hearing."