Off-Duty Cop Fired After Moonlighting for Private Ambulance Service as a Driver

A police officer who resigned before facing an accelerated misconduct hearing would have been dismissed without notice, according to a ruling by the Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police.

PC Oliver Hampson, formerly based in Weston-super-Mare, admitted to gross misconduct after he was found to have taken on secondary employment as a driver for private ambulance companies despite being explicitly denied permission by Avon and Somerset Police.

At the hearing on Friday, 16 August, chaired by Chief Constable Sarah Crew, it was revealed that Hampson had knowingly breached his employment conditions. Messages sent by Hampson indicated his awareness that engaging in unauthorised work could result in his dismissal, yet he proceeded to undertake the role regardless.

In addition to this, Hampson was accused of a second act of gross misconduct, which he denied. The allegation involved him driving his private vehicle behind an unmarked police car that was responding to an emergency with its blue lights and sirens activated.

Hampson was found to have…