A former Hertfordshire Police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct after falsely claiming he had passed his driving test.

False Claims Exposed

PC Alexander Simpson—who is no longer employed by the force—told supervisors he had obtained a full driving licence in 2017 and was authorised to drive automatic vehicles.

However, in 2024, when he failed to produce a valid licence during a routine “check drive” with the police driving school, further checks revealed he had only ever held a provisional driving licence.

Misconduct Panel Ruling

A police misconduct panel concluded that Simpson’s actions amounted to gross misconduct. The panel confirmed that, had Simpson still been serving, he would have been dismissed from the force.

Chief Constable Andy Prophet said:

“I find that on the balance of probabilities former PC Simpson did not hold a valid full driving licence, did mislead his supervisory officers and therefore failed to uphold the highest standards of professional behaviour expected of a police officer.

“The consequence of such behaviour only serves to undermine public trust and confidence and therefore cannot be justified.”

 Barred From Policing

As a result of the findings, Simpson has been added to the College of Policing’s barred list, meaning he is banned from working in policing roles in the future.

 Background

During the check drive, Simpson provided a photo of a document instead of his actual licence, prompting concerns. The revelation adds to ongoing discussions about police accountability and vetting processes.