Police officer sacked for refusing to help detain shoplifter

  • Granada
PC Jonathan Webb has been dismissed by Merseyside Police Credit: Granada Reports

A Merseyside Police officer has been sacked for gross misconduct after refusing to help detain a shoplifter.

PC Jonathan Webb was dismissed without notice after a disciplinary hearing, following the incident in December last year.

PC Webb and three colleagues were travelling along Dale Street in Liverpool when they were flagged down by the manager of a local supermarket.He advised the officers a member of his staff had detained a shoplifter.

The hearing heard PC Webb told the manager the officers were not "kitted up" to help.

The hearing was told the officers then drove off, failing to provide either direct assistance or asking another patrol car to attend.

The three other officers in the car were also disciplined.

PC Mark Higgins has received a final written warning while PCs Paul Birch and Joanne Parr will receive words of advice from management.