North Yorkshire Pc sacked for 'gross misconduct'

North Yorkshire police officer Simon Ryan has been sacked by a disciplinary panel who ruled he had committed gross misconduct.

Ryan wore a woolly hat with 'I love weed' on while on duty and also wrote "paedo" and "paedophile" on a CV during an investigation into an allegation of child abuse.

The hearing was told Ryan did it to amuse colleagues.

The hearing at the police headquarters is the first disciplinary the force has held where the public and press are allowed to attend.

The panel heard Pc Ryan found the CVs at a house during a search into an allegation of a sex offence involving a child in January 2015.

Under "interests", Pc Ryan amended the CV to say "abusing children", the hearing was told.

He then showed the CV to colleagues, did not record it as evidence and later destroyed it in the confidential waste at Northallerton Police Station.

Only 10 days later, he was on duty when he wore a hat with a cannabis logo and the message "I love weed", both in the office and while on mobile patrol.

A North Yorkshire police officer who wore an "I love weed" woolly hat on duty and scribbled "puerile" abuse on a CV during a probe into an allegation of child abuse is set to learn his fate following a disciplinary hearing.

A panel ruled Pc Simon Ryan of North Yorkshire Police was guilty of gross misconduct after he wrote "paedo" and "paedophile" on the document to amuse colleagues.

The hearing at the police headquarters is the first disciplinary the force has held where the public and press are allowed to attend.

Pc Ryan was due back before the panel on Tuesday to hear the outcome. He could be sacked from the force.

PC Simon Ryan was sacked after appearing before a disciplinary panel at North Yorkshire Police headquarters.

The hearing was the first to be held by the force in public. It's part of a new law that aims to make police misconduct hearings more open.

They include:

• Requiring disciplinary hearings are held in public
• Ensuring the chair of the hearing is legally qualified - previously a police officer would be in charge.
• Protecting police whistleblowers from unfair disciplinary action
• Allowing compensation to be withheld from chief officers who are found guilty of misconduct

When announced Home Secretary Theresa May said the laws would "ensure that the system is accountable, transparent and easy for the public to understand".

She said:

A North Yorkshire PC accused of wearing a wooly hat saying 'I love weed' while on duty has admitted misconduct.

A three day-hearing started today at North Yorkshire Police headquarters.

ITV Tyne Tees reporter Gregg Easteal tweeted PC Simon Ryan has admitted misconduct but denies gross misconduct.

A North Yorkshire Police Officer, accused of going on patrol wearing a woolly hat with the slogan 'I love weed', is facing misconduct charges.

A three day hearing into the allegations is due to begin at North Yorkshire Police Headquarters today.

PC Simon Ryan faces allegations that, "whilst on duty at Northallerton police station he wore a black woolly hat stating 'I love weed' or words/pictures to that effect. Despite being advised to remove the hat, he resumed wearing the hat whilst on mobile patrol."

The force alleges that PC Ryan's conduct amounted to a breach of professional standards.