Serving Dorset Police officer demoted after being found to have committed gross misconduct
A serving Dorset Police officer who lied to his supervisor about taking time off for a dentist appointment and emailed sensitive information to his personal email has been determined to have committed gross misconduct.
A misconduct hearing was held at Dorset Police headquarters in Winfrith on Tuesday 8 September 2026, chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Mark Callaghan, to consider three sets of allegations against Detective Sergeant William Pearce.
DS Pearce said he admitted all the allegations but did not accept they amounted to gross misconduct.
The two gross misconduct matters centred on DS Pearce emailing a highly sensitive and confidential document to his personal email address and lying to his supervisor in April 2025 by taking time off for a dentist appointment he never attended.
Another allegation related to DS Pearce repeatedly taking unauthorised absences from work, commuting during working hours and completing the school run when not authorised to do so. The absences were not accurately recorded on his working time between 21 March and 21 October 2025. The chair found that due to the unique role performed by DS Pearce there had been blurring of work and home life with expectations of him taking out of hours calls, however he had breached the standards of duties and responsibilities and integrity, but not honesty and it amounted to misconduct.
A final allegation related to instances in which DS Pearce had accessed case files in relation to an investigation and completed unauthorised computer checks to assist another colleague with her role. This allegation was not found proven. He also emailed a confidential and highly sensitive document to his personal email address, whilst this was for a policing purpose, it was wholly inappropriate. This was found to be a breach of confidentiality and amounted to gross misconduct.
During the hearing, DS Pearce was described as an exceptionally dedicated and committed officer, who worked in a unique and specialist investigative role and felt it was his responsibility to be ready to take calls and give advice every day, despite not being paid or formally rostered to do so in a formal on-call capacity.
The hearing heard that multiple character statements from colleagues and a criminal barrister had been provided which stated that DS Pearce goes beyond the call of duty and always has done.
Mitigation was put forward on behalf of the officer. He told the hearing he took pride in his work and in working for a small force he did not realise at the time how much he had blurred the lines between home and work life. He said he had also developed a bad habit of poor record keeping in relation to the hours he worked.
ACC Callaghan said that the organisation had let him down in the role he was working within and that organisational lessons would need to be learned. He said that while none of the breaches were an indication of operational dishonesty or corruption, that as a supervisor he held a position of responsibility, was expected to uphold and model the highest of standards and should have known better.
He stated that DS Pearce had continued to perform within the role and was respected and trusted and the most suitable outcome was demotion from the rank of sergeant.
Deputy Chief Constable Steve Lyne said: “While it is clear that the actions of DS Pearce were not operationally dishonest or corrupt, as an experienced officer with 18 years’ experience he knowingly sent confidential and sensitive information and lied to his supervisor around being absent from work. These are serious breaches of standards that risked sensitive information as part of an investigation. We know that this behaviour will concern those who work in policing and the wider public. DS Pearce accepted his wrongdoing, and the Force also notes the blurred lines from the unique role he undertakes. We therefore welcome and accept the lesser outcome given by the chair.
“The details heard within this hearing about the unique role DS Pearce worked within and the untenable position he was placed in by the organisation are something we take responsibility for as an organisation and we will reflect and learn from this.”
A full report from the panel chair will be submitted to the Force and published on the Force website in due course. With that comes a period of time where an appeal can be considered should DS Pearce wish to do so.
Anyone with concerns about a member of Dorset Police can report them directly to Dorset Police via the Dorset Police website or by emailing complaints-misconduct@dorset.pnn.police.uk. Alternatively members of the public can contact the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) – details of which can be found via their website www.policeconduct.gov.uk or anonymously via the Crimestoppers charity online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or freephone 0800 555 111.
Members of the public can also report matters to the Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service by calling 0800 085 0000 or via Crimestoppers' website to provide information you have about a serving police officer, staff member or volunteer in the UK.