West Mercia Police have released the following statement after a former officer was jailed for two counts of misconduct in a public office. Ian Langford, 46 of Church Street, Tewkesbury will serve 18 months in prison. He was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court today.
Detective Andy Gough of West Mercia Police’s Professional Standards Department said: “We expect our entire workforce to behave professionally and with the utmost integrity at all times. It should be remembered that the vast majority of our officers and staff conduct themselves to the highest standards, following our Code of Ethics as the norm.
“Where an individual chooses to ignore those expected standards of behaviour we take the matter very seriously and, as in this case, it can lead to dismissal.
“The investigation into this matter demonstrates the robust position that we take towards any wilful wrongdoing by police officers and hope the outcome reassures the public that such matters are investigated thoroughly and that such behaviour will not be accepted.”
The officer involved, who was based at Ledbury Police Station at the time of the offences, was suspended from duties during the investigation and subsequently dismissed from West Mercia Police on 2nd May 2014.