Convicted police officer to face misconduct panel over fraud

Jamie Harrison was jailed for 27 months at Worcester Crown Court in March after he was convicted of misappropriating £12,600 in funds from West Mercia Police Federation while he was treasurer and secretary.

The 55-year-old, of Worcester Road, Droitwich, was found guilty of 15 counts of fraud following a five-week trial at Hereford Crown Court.

The court heard Harrison abused the position he had held between 2010 and 2018 to use members funds on expensive hotels and meals with his family.

Harrison attended several police memorial days which take place all over the country and are designed to commemorate officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, including in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, claiming £4,745.

He would stay in 4-star hotels with his wife and two children, turning the solemn events into what the judge called 'family holidays' or a 'minibreaks'.

Following the sentencing, detective superintendent Tony Garner from West Mercia Police said: “Jamie Harrison chose to act for himself.

"He took advantage of the position as treasurer and secretary within the Police Federation to use members’ funds for his own gain.

"This was a betrayal of the trust placed in him by both the public and his colleagues.

“His actions amounted to criminal behaviour, and an investigation was carried out, without fear or favour, as the public would rightly expect.”

An accelerated misconduct hearing has now been called, where Harrison will face allegations of breaching the Standards of Professional Behaviour expected by police.

An accelerated misconduct hearing is a disciplinary hearing where there is undeniable evidence, such as a criminal conviction, which proves gross misconduct and that it is in the public interest for the officer to be barred from the police service immediately.

The 55-year-old's hearing will be held at West Mercia Police's headquarters, Hindlip Hall, near Worcester, at 12.30pm on Thursday (June 17).