SACKED: Police officer punched drunk handcuffed man three times in the face

A misconduct hearing was told PC Mark Edwards’ use of force was ‘excessive and unjustified’ and his use of violence was ‘gratuitous’.

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Earlier this year Mr Edwards, who worked as a community beat bobby in Darwen, was convicted of assault by beating following a trial at Liverpool Magistrates Court in relation to the attack on Thomas McCormack.

He lost a subsequent appeal against that conviction at Liverpool Crown Court on June 30.

Mr Edwards, who continues to maintain his innocence, handed in his resignation upon his conviction but that was rejected as current Government guidelines do not allow officers facing misconduct hearings to tender their notice.

Mr Edwards, who received the Chief Constable’s Commendation in 2009 for helping to talk a suicidal man down from a motorway bridge at Guide, criticised the system and said he was trying to save the tax payer money.

The misconduct hearing at Leyland Police Station was told the incident happened while Mr Edwards and colleague PC Roger Morris were patrolling Darwen town centre in a car at around 1am on April 26, last year.

Eric Gold, representing Lancashire police, said the officers saw Mr McCormack on the street with friends, holding his groin.

Mr Gold said Mr McCormack broke away from his friends and walked towards a nearby alleyway. The officers told him to leave the area but he was seen walking back towards the alleyway, close to Greggs, a short time later.

Mr Gold said: “PC Edwards got out of the car and arrested Mr McCormack for being drunk and disorderly.

“Mr McCormack resisted arrest, resulting in a struggle between him and PC Edwards. It ended with PC Edwards’ placing Mr McCormack into the back of the police car, using force, handcuffed.

“During the totality of this, Mr McCormack was verbally abusive, swearing at PC Edwards and at the situation. There is no issue as to the force used for this action.”

Mr Gold said because both officers were close to the end of their shift they decided to issue Mr McCormak with a fixed penalty notice.

He said when Edwards asked Mr McCormack for his details he refused and swore. It is at that point Edwards punched him ‘three or four times’.

The panel, chaired by Chief Constable Steve Finnigan, was told Mr McCormack’s injuries were not serious and consisted mainly of reddening to the face and pain in the jaw.

Mr McCormack was taken to the police station by different officers and when he arrived was said to be upset and crying. Mr McCormack said he wanted to make a complaint against the arresting officer.

The hearing was told an investigation was launched and Mr Edwards, who was not present or represented at the hearing, was moved away from Darwen to ‘alternative duties’.

Following his conviction he was suspended on full pay pending the result of the misconduct hearing.

The panel found Mr Edwards guilty of gross misconduct in relation to his duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct.

Ch Con Finnigan said: “PC Edwards has provided no explanation or rationale for his conduct.

“There is no doubt that he has done some excellent police work in his 12 years service with Lancashire Constabulary.

“However I take the view that the only way to ensure public confidence in this organisation is to dismiss PC Edwards without notice.”

DS Simon Challenger read out a written response on behalf of Mr Edwards, who is setting up a landscaping business, in which he spoke of how much he had enjoyed his time in the force.

It said: “I have been a police officer with Lancashire Constabulary since August 2004 and previously served with the Ministry of Defence police from 2001.

“I feel I have served the community with outstanding values.”

Mr Edwards, who was ordered to complete 300 hours unpaid work, pay £250 compensation and £930 costs by the magistrates court, thanked family, friends and the people of Darwen for the support he has received.

He has seven days to appeal the panel’s decision.