Female Officer Dismissed After Fabricating Story About Car Crash
A disturbing incident unfolded when a police officer was involved in a traffic accident and subsequently made false claims about the circumstances. Constable Charlotte Morris of Thames Valley Police faced a disciplinary hearing where she attempted to justify her actions by suggesting an animal had darted onto the road.
The Incident Revealed
On August 27, 2023, while patrolling Eton Wick in Berkshire, Officer Morris struck a parked BMW. Contrary to her claims that she swerved to avoid hitting a fox or badger, dashcam footage captured her vehicle colliding with the BMW at considerable speed before veering across the roadway and overturning.
Consequences and Findings
During medical treatment for minor injuries sustained from the crash, Morris maintained her fabricated story. However, evidence clearly indicated that she had carelessly driven into the stationary car without any evasive action being necessary. The disciplinary panel concluded that this deception constituted ‘operational dishonesty’ and held her liable for gross misconduct.
Termination of Employment
Following these findings, Officer Morris was terminated from service immediately. In early February of the following year (2024), she pleaded guilty to careless driving charges which resulted in five penalty points on her driving record along with fines totaling £266 plus additional costs amounting to £196.
The patrol car flips over after colliding with another vehicle.
The officer’s car resting on its roof beside the road.
Impact on Health and Public Trust
Although sustained injuries included minor head trauma and back pain requiring physiotherapy sessions, neither Morris nor her colleague suffered serious long-term health implications from this accident.
A Regrettable Decision for Law Enforcement
Despite expressing regret regarding their decision to terminate her employment, the panel emphasized it was compelled by misconduct protocols within Thames Valley Police standards. They cautioned about potential damage such behaviors could inflict upon public faith in law enforcement institutions if citizens were privy to such untruthfulness intended as self-preservation post-crash.
