A detective is to face a misconduct hearing over allegations she deliberately weighed down the keys on her laptop to give the impression she was working while at home.
Avon and Somerset police gave notice of the accelerated misconduct hearing, which will take place on Thursday, in relation to DC Philippa Baskwill.
The notice said it was alleged Baskwill had breached standards of professional behaviour for police officers, specifically honesty and integrity, orders and instructions, and duties and responsibilities.
It is alleged that while working from home Baskwill “weighted down keys on her laptop keyboard for considerable periods of time in order to give the misleading impression that she was working”.
The statement added: “On several occasions, while working from home, DC Philippa Baskwill spent considerable and extended periods of time online for non-policing purposes, rather than carrying out her policing duties.
“It is contended that (if proven) the allegations amount to gross misconduct.”
The hearing will be held in public online but could be subject to restrictions by the force’s chief constable, Sarah Crew.
In July last year, a police officer in Leicestershire was found to have been holding down a key on his laptop in order to give colleagues the impression he was working when he had in fact been sleeping.
The police officer, who resigned, used his watch to hold down the “up” key of his work laptop on numerous occasions, while working from home, the misconduct hearing heard.
It was ruled that the officer’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and he would have been dismissed without notice if still employed by the force.
