Police officer sacked over £200 shoplifting spree while on duty

Police officer sacked over £200 shoplifting spree while on duty

A police constable has been sacked after stealing £70 of moisturiser from Selfridges in a £200 shoplifting spree while on duty.

Pc Abigail Smith, of West Midlands Police, was issued with a caution for theft after also taking items from KIKO Milano and Superdrug on May 12.

The misconduct hearing heard how the disgraced officer pocketed the moisturiser in Selfridges at 1pm in the Bull Ring in Birmingham city centre while she was supposed to be working.

Bullring shopping complex
The Selfridges store in the Bull Ring shopping complex in Birmingham (PA)

But Chief Constable David Thompson was satisfied her actions amounted to gross misconduct and dismissed her without notice in order to “maintain public confidence”.

Pc Smith attended the misconduct hearing at the force’s headquarters on Friday as she claimed she had been “let down by West Midlands Police”.

She told Mr Thompson she had spent nearly four months off work due to the stresses of the job.

Chief Constable David Thompson interview
David Thompson, Chief Constable of West Midlands Police (PA)

“You are very accountable for your actions. It is a breach of public trust. You were shoplifting while on duty.

“I have determined the officer ought to be dismissed without notice.”

In a statement read to the hearing on behalf of Pc Smith, she said: “Firstly, I would like to take the opportunity to apologise. I can only stress I wasn’t in the right frame of mind.

“I believe it was a cry for help.

“I felt as if a burden had been lifted and people could see I needed help.”

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