A gross misconduct hearing held at Wiltshire Police Headquarters on 25 February 2025 has ruled that former police constable Robert Poile would have been dismissed without notice if he was still serving with the force. The hearing found Poile guilty of serious breaches of honesty and integrity during his police vetting process.
Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith chaired the hearing and concluded that Poile provided inaccurate information that breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour.
Two allegations of misleading information during the vetting process were upheld against Poile. The misconduct was deemed serious enough to justify immediate dismissal had he remained employed by Wiltshire Police. As a result, Poile will be placed on the national barred list, which prohibits him from working for any UK police force in the future.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Cooper emphasised the importance of trust and integrity within the police force. He stated, “Our communities rightly expect that only those suitable to work in policing are able to, and that they have been vetted to the highest standards. Our communities also expect and deserve the highest standards of professional behaviour from all our officers and staff. Former PC Poile’s actions in withholding information that would have had a material impact on the outcome of his vetting application fell well short of the standards we expect, and he has been held to account for his actions.”
Under the Police Conduct Regulations 2020, Robert Poile has 10 working days to appeal the decision made at the hearing.
Wiltshire Police have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining public trust and enforcing rigorous vetting procedures. The force stressed that it will continue to take strong action against any breaches of integrity to protect the reputation and safety of local communities. This case serves as a clear warning that dishonesty, even from former officers, will not be tolerated or go unpunished.
Originally published by UKNIP.
