Officer who was spotted on holiday after lying about illness 'would have been dismissed' without resignation, police say

An 'accelerated' misconduct hearing has found that a former Staffordshire Police officer would have been dismissed without notice had she not resigned after lying about a debilitating illness. 

Former PC, Claire Reeves, who was a response officer in Cannock, resigned on August 15, 2024, following an investigation by the force's Professional Standards Department. 

Reeves had been off sick since April 2024 due to a medical condition which she had claimed 'had a serious impact' on her mobility. 

The illness meant that she was unable to perform any operational duties and could only sit for short periods of time. 

In May 2024, it was said that her condition was so bad that she struggled to do the most daily tasks and that she was seeking medical retirement from the force.

However, concerns were raised about her claims when she was spotted in a supermarket, and seen on holiday abroad in July 2024. 

CCTV footage from Birmingham International Airport shows Reeves lifting suitcases onto the baggage carousel, bending down, walking freely without aids and standing for long periods of time. 

Following the investigation, the chief constable found that her conduct amounted to gross misconduct. 

The one-day-long hearing, conducted by chief constable Chris Noble, was helkd on Thursday, March 27, and found that Reeves has breached the standard relating to honesty and integrity. 

Deputy chief constable Becky Riggs, said: "This was a planned and methodical approach to deceive by Reeves for financial gain, which included various and repeated denials to various individuals.

“We will continue to take robust action against any officer or member of staff who doesn’t act with the highest standards of integrity.”

Reeves will now be placed on the national College of Policing's Barred List, preventing her from working within policing and other law enforcement bodies.