Two former Metropolitan Police officers have been sentenced for perverting the course of justice after they destroyed body-worn camera footage and lied about their involvement in a high-speed chase in Hayes.
Former PC Neil Churchley, 40, and former PC Michael Salmon, 50, were found guilty and received suspended prison sentences at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, February 28, 2025.
High-Speed Chase and Cover-Up
The incident occurred on July 5, 2023, when the officers, who were on patrol in Hayes, attempted to stop a motorcycle rider. Instead of stopping, the rider fled, leading to a high-speed police pursuit. The chase ended with the motorcycle passenger suffering a leg injury.
Following the incident, both officers lied to their colleagues about who was driving the police car during the chase. PC Salmon then destroyed the body-worn video cameras, which may have contained crucial evidence of the pursuit. Fragments of the cameras were later found in his garden.
Hours after the incident, PC Churchley reported the matter to his line manager, who escalated it to the Directorate of Professional Standards. This led to PC Salmon’s arrest at his home on July 6, 2023, on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and theft. He was suspended from duty the same day and remained suspended until his retirement in September 2023.
PC Churchley was interviewed on July 9, 2023, and was placed on restricted duties before resigning in November 2024.
Court Sentencing and Misconduct Panel Ruling
Both officers were charged with perverting the course of justice on October 9, 2024, and pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court on January 3, 2025.
At sentencing:
- Churchley received a six-month suspended sentence for 12 months
- Salmon received an eight-month suspended sentence for one year
A misconduct hearing on January 31, 2025, found both officers had committed gross misconduct, violating Standards of Professional Behaviour concerning honesty, integrity, and discreditable conduct.
They would have been dismissed without notice had they still been serving. Both men have been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list, preventing them from being employed by any UK police force or related law enforcement agencies.
Police Response
Superintendent Martin Kirby, lead officer for Met Operations Taskforce, condemned their actions:
“Both individuals acted in a way which was intended to pervert the course of public justice. They let their colleagues and the public down. This is not the type of behaviour we expect or will tolerate from our officers, and appropriate action has been taken.”
The Metropolitan Police continues to reinforce its commitment to accountability and integrity, emphasizing that misconduct will not be tolerated within the force.
