Misconduct panel finds former Hertfordshire police officer Alexander Simpson ‘misled’ superiors about driving licence

A Hertfordshire police officer misled his supervisors after saying he had a full driving licence, a misconduct panel has concluded.

PC Alexander Simpson, who has since left the force, claimed he passed his driving test in 2017 and held a valid driving licence allowing him to drive automatic vehicles.

However, when police checked with the relevant authority they found he held only a provisional licence.

The issue was revealed in early 2024 when PC Simpson was asked to complete a “check drive” with the police driving school.

He was required to provide a copy of his licence for inspection, but Simpson showed only a photo of a document and was not allowed to complete the check drive.

A police misconduct panel led by Chief Constable Andy Prophet said: “I find that on the balance of probabilities former PC Simpson did not hold a valid full driving licence, did mislead his supervisory officers and therefore failed to uphold the highest standards of professional behaviour expected of a police officer.

“The consequence of such behaviour only serves to undermine public trust and confidence and therefore cannot be justified.”

The panel found that Simpson’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and would have led to his dismissal had he still been employed by Hertfordshire Constabulary. He has been added to the policing barred list.