Driving and conduct

Driving Offences
and Your Police Job

What happens to a police officer who gets a speeding ticket, is convicted of drink driving, is banned, or is involved in a collision on duty. Written from the Conduct and Vetting Regulations, the road traffic statutes and College of Policing guidance as they stood on 3 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 3 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated

Short answer: can a police officer be sacked for a driving offence?

Yes, but rarely automatically. You must report an endorsable fixed penalty, arrest, charge or conviction (Discreditable Conduct, Conduct Regulations Sch 2). A paid speeding fixed penalty is not a conviction. Any conviction, including drink driving, now means you are presumed unsuitable for vetting unless particular circumstances justify otherwise (Vetting Regulations reg 5D(3)). An indictable-only conviction, such as causing death by dangerous driving, is gross misconduct by definition, so dismissal follows unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Scenario by scenario: the likely route

A driving offence can reach your job by three routes: the criminal case, the conduct case under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, and, since 13 July 2026, a vetting review under the Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025. Which ones apply depends on what happened and how the criminal side ends. This table is a summary of the rules, not a prediction for any case. The sections below explain each line and give the sources.

Driving scenarios and the routes they open (England and Wales, rules as at 3 October 2026)
Scenario	Criminal route	Conduct route	Vetting (from 13 July 2026)	What the rules point to
Speeding, fixed penalty accepted and paid	Endorsable fixed penalty: £100 and 3 points minimum (GOV.UK). Paying discharges liability to conviction (RTOA s 52(1), s 78(2)).	Must be reported (Code of Ethics). Force assesses whether the driving or any failure to report is a conduct issue; it may be neither.	Not a conviction or caution, so reg 5D does not apply on its face. Duty to notify relevant changes still applies (reg 5(1)(b)).	No rule makes this misconduct in itself. Reporting promptly is the main protection.
Speeding, speed awareness course	Offered instead of a fixed penalty where the police decide it is appropriate and you have not done one in 3 years (GOV.UK).	Not on the Code of Ethics reporting list; check force policy and seek advice if in doubt.	Not a conviction or caution.	No national rule found.
Speeding, convicted at court (including high speed or disputed ticket)	Summary offence; fine up to £1,000 (£2,500 on a motorway), 3 to 6 points or discretionary ban (RTOA Sch 2; GOV.UK).	Report the summons and conviction. Force severity assessment; seriousness depends on speed, context and any other factors.	A conviction: unsuitable unless particular circumstances justify otherwise (reg 5D(3)).	Anything from no formal action to a misconduct case, plus the reg 5D(3) vetting presumption.
Drink or drug driving, convicted	Summary only. Minimum 12 month ban, or 3 years for a second in 10 years (RTOA s 34). Up to 6 months' prison and unlimited fine for drink driving (GOV.UK).	Report arrest, charge and conviction. Conduct case under Discreditable Conduct (and Fitness for Duty if on duty). Not automatically gross misconduct.	Unsuitable unless particular circumstances (reg 5D(3)); exceptional circumstances if a custodial sentence was imposed (reg 5D(2)(a)).	Warnings to dismissal depending on seriousness; no national tariff. Loss of licence affects driving roles.
Careless driving, off duty	Summary only; 3 to 9 points or discretionary ban (RTOA Sch 2). Often offered a fixed penalty or course.	Reportable if a fixed penalty, summons or conviction. Assessed on facts.	Conviction triggers reg 5D(3); a paid fixed penalty does not.	Depends on the facts; injury, drink or dishonesty raise seriousness.
Dangerous driving	Either way; up to 2 years' prison on indictment; obligatory ban (RTOA Sch 2).	Report and expect a severity assessment that may be gross misconduct.	Conviction triggers reg 5D(3), or 5D(2)(a) if a custodial sentence.	Serious. Not automatically gross misconduct because it is not indictable-only.
Causing death by dangerous driving, or by careless driving under the influence	Indictable only; maximum life; minimum 5 year ban (RTOA Sch 2, s 34(4ZA)).	Conviction is gross misconduct by definition (reg 2(1), 2(2A)); accelerated hearing possible (reg 49).	Custodial sentence likely makes you unsuitable unless exceptional circumstances (reg 5D(2)(a)).	Dismissal unless exceptional circumstances (reg 42(3)(b)), then the barred list.
Driving while disqualified	Summary; up to 6 months' prison; 6 points; discretionary further ban (RTOA Sch 2).	Report. Deliberately breaching a court order bears on integrity and culpability.	Conviction triggers reg 5D(3) or 5D(2)(a).	Serious because it is a knowing breach of a court order.
False account of who was driving (to avoid points)	Failing to give driver information is an offence with 6 points (RTA s 172). Lying about the driver can be prosecuted as perverting the course of justice, which is indictable only.	Honesty and Integrity. The College guidance treats dishonesty in official documents as at the serious end.	Any conviction triggers reg 5D.	A perverting conviction is gross misconduct by definition: dismissal unless exceptional circumstances.
On-duty collision, no death or serious injury	Possible careless or dangerous driving, judged against a trained constable if prescribed training is in date (RTA ss 2A, 3ZA).	Force review under driving policy; reflective practice or misconduct if conduct falls short.	Not engaged unless there is a conviction or caution.	Handled by the force under its driving policy (APP); outcome depends on the standard of driving and compliance with training and policy.
On-duty collision or pursuit with death or serious injury	Possible prosecution; a file can be passed to the CPS after investigation.	Mandatory DSI referral to the IOPC; becomes a conduct matter if there is an indication of an offence or misconduct (PRA Sch 3 para 21A).	Only on conviction or caution, or other information indicating unsuitability.	IOPC decides the mode of investigation. Outcome depends on the driving standard and the trained-constable test.

Three things decide most cases

Was there a conviction or caution? A paid fixed penalty is not one. A conviction brings in the vetting presumption in reg 5D.
Was the offence indictable-only? If so, the conviction is gross misconduct by definition and dismissal is the expected outcome.
Was anyone dishonest? A false account to the police, a court or your force often turns a minor driving matter into a serious integrity case.

When a driving matter is criminal, and when it is also a conduct matter

Almost every moving traffic offence is a criminal offence. What changes is how it is dealt with:

Fixed penalty. A fixed penalty notice offers "the opportunity of the discharge of any liability to conviction" by paying (Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, section 52(1)). If you pay within the suspended enforcement period, no proceedings can be brought (section 78(2)), and for an endorsable offence the points go on your record without a court order (section 57A). So a paid speeding ticket is not a conviction.
Course instead of a penalty. For some offences, the police can offer a course such as speed awareness. GOV.UK says this depends on whether the police decide it is appropriate and whether you have been on a speed awareness course in the past 3 years.
Court. Some offences always go to court (drink driving, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified). Others go to court if you ask for a hearing instead of paying the ticket, or if the police decide to prosecute rather than offer a fixed penalty. A finding of guilt at court is a conviction, even for speeding.
Disqualification. For offences carrying obligatory disqualification the court must ban for at least 12 months unless there are special reasons (section 34(1)), and reaching 12 or more points normally means at least 6 months (section 35).

Separately, your force decides whether the same facts raise a conduct issue. The appropriate authority (your chief officer or a delegate) makes a severity assessment under regulation 14 of the Conduct Regulations: if proved, would the conduct be misconduct (serious enough to justify disciplinary action), gross misconduct (serious enough to justify dismissal) or neither? Conduct falling short of expectations but not amounting to misconduct is "practice requiring improvement" (regulation 2(7)) and is handled through the reflective practice review process, which is not disciplinary.

The Standards most often engaged by driving are Discreditable Conduct (which applies "whether on or off duty"), Honesty and Integrity (if an account given is false), Orders and Instructions (police officers "abide by police regulations, force policies and lawful orders", which includes force driving policy on duty) and Fitness for Duty (which applies "when on duty or presenting themselves for duty"). See the Standards of Professional Behaviour explained.

Road traffic offences: where tried, maximum penalty and whether indictable-only (Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, Schedule 2, unless stated)
Offence	Where tried	Maximum penalty (England and Wales)	Disqualification and points	Indictable-only?
Speeding (RTRA 1984 s 89)	Magistrates only	Level 3 fine (GOV.UK: up to £1,000, £2,500 on a motorway)	Discretionary ban; 3 to 6 points, or 3 by fixed penalty	No
Careless driving (RTA s 3)	Magistrates only	Level 5 fine (unlimited)	Discretionary ban; 3 to 9 points	No
Drink driving: driving with excess alcohol (RTA s 5(1)(a))	Magistrates only	6 months' prison and/or unlimited fine	Obligatory ban, minimum 12 months (3 years for a repeat within 10 years)	No
Drug driving above a specified limit (RTA s 5A)	Magistrates only	Prison and/or unlimited fine (see note below)	Obligatory ban, minimum 12 months (3 years for a repeat within 10 years)	No
Failing to provide a specimen when driving (RTA s 7(6))	Magistrates only	6 months' prison and/or unlimited fine	Obligatory ban, minimum 12 months	No
Dangerous driving (RTA s 2)	Either way	2 years' prison on indictment	Obligatory ban, minimum 12 months; 3 to 11 points	No
Causing serious injury by dangerous driving (RTA s 1A)	Either way	5 years' prison on indictment	Obligatory ban, minimum 2 years	No
Causing death by careless driving (RTA s 2B)	Either way	5 years' prison on indictment	Obligatory ban, minimum 12 months	No
Causing death by dangerous driving (RTA s 1)	Crown Court only	Life imprisonment	Obligatory ban, minimum 5 years	Yes
Causing death by careless driving under the influence (RTA s 3A)	Crown Court only	Life imprisonment	Obligatory ban, minimum 5 years	Yes
Causing death by driving while disqualified (RTA s 3ZC)	Crown Court only	10 years' prison	Obligatory ban, minimum 2 years	Yes
Driving while disqualified (RTA s 103(1)(b))	Magistrates only	6 months' prison and/or level 5 fine	Discretionary ban; 6 points	No
Failing to identify the driver (RTA s 172)	Magistrates only	Level 3 fine	Discretionary ban; 6 points	No
Perverting the course of justice (common law)	Crown Court only	Life imprisonment (CPS)	Not a road traffic offence	Yes

Notes: "Either way" means the offence can be tried in a magistrates' court or the Crown Court, so it is not indictable-only. For drug driving, the revised text of Schedule 2 on legislation.gov.uk shows a 51-week term for England and Wales that depends on a provision we could not confirm is in force, so we do not state a figure. The drink-driving penalties also appear on GOV.UK. Courts also impose fines, costs and extended retests in some cases.

Telling your force: what the rules require

There are three separate reporting duties. None of them sets a deadline in hours, but all of them expect speed.

The Standards of Professional Behaviour. Discreditable Conduct in Schedule 2 to the Conduct Regulations says: "Police officers report any action taken against them for a criminal offence, any conditions imposed on them by a court or the receipt of any penalty notice." It applies on or off duty.
The Code of Ethics guidance. The College of Policing's guidance lists the measures to report, including "arrest, any legal processing in connection with an allegation of criminal conduct, a summons for an offence, a penalty notice for disorder, an endorsable fixed penalty notice for a road traffic offence, a charge or caution", and any conviction, sentence or court condition. It says these are reported "as soon as reasonably practical", in the UK or elsewhere, and that when in doubt "it is best to seek advice."
The Vetting Regulations. Regulation 5(1)(b) of the Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 requires every officer to "promptly notify the vetting authority" of any change in personal circumstances "or any other matter which may reasonably affect their suitability to hold vetting clearance". A conviction or caution plainly qualifies.

Your force's own policy says who to tell (often your line manager, professional standards or the vetting unit, sometimes through a form) and may set a specific time limit. It may also require you to declare a driving ban, points or a change of licence status if you drive for work.

Why late reporting matters

Failing to report is a separate potential breach of Discreditable Conduct, and the College's outcomes guidance lists concealing wrongdoing among aggravating factors (para 4.76). We found nothing in the rules that makes a promptly reported, paid speeding ticket a misconduct matter in itself; the same ticket discovered later, through a vetting or licence check, raises questions about candour. Reporting that something happened is not the same as giving an account of the facts: speak to your Federation representative before you give any explanation.

Speeding: fixed penalty, course or court

GOV.UK gives the minimum penalty for speeding as a £100 fine and 3 penalty points. A court can impose a fine based on income up to £1,000 (£2,500 on a motorway), and can disqualify. Speeding is a summary-only offence with 3 to 6 points, or 3 when dealt with by fixed penalty (Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, Schedule 2).

If you accept the fixed penalty

It is not a conviction (section 52(1)), so the conviction-based vetting presumption in regulation 5D does not apply on its face.
It is an endorsable fixed penalty, so you report it under the Code of Ethics guidance and the Discreditable Conduct standard.
Whether the force treats the driving as a conduct issue depends on the facts. We found no national rule, guidance or statistic that makes an ordinary paid speeding ticket a misconduct matter.

If you go to court or are prosecuted

A conviction for speeding is still a conviction. From 13 July 2026, regulation 5D(3) of the Vetting Regulations says an officer convicted of any offence not covered by the stricter list "is also not suitable to hold vetting clearance ... unless there are particular circumstances relevant to the officer's case which justify the officer being regarded as suitable". We found no guidance on how vetting authorities are applying "particular circumstances" to minor motoring convictions, so it is worth discussing with your representative whether to contest a ticket before you decide.

When speeding becomes serious for the job

Very high speed or risk to others. The outcomes guidance says culpability is greater where harm was foreseeable, and harm includes the risk of harm even if none occurred.
A police vehicle used for no police purpose. The speed limit exemption in section 87 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 applies only when the vehicle is being used for police purposes and observing the limit "would be likely to hinder" that use.
A false nomination or account. See the honesty section below.
New drivers. Under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995, a licence is revoked if you reach 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your test (GOV.UK). Two speeding tickets can be enough, which matters for recently qualified student officers.

Drink or drug driving

Driving or attempting to drive with excess alcohol, driving while unfit through drink or drugs, driving above a specified drug limit, and failing to provide a specimen are all summary-only offences carrying obligatory disqualification (Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, Schedule 2). The minimum ban is 12 months unless the court finds special reasons, and 3 years if you were convicted of one of these offences in the previous 10 years (section 34). GOV.UK gives the maximum for driving over the limit as 6 months' imprisonment and an unlimited fine, and for being in charge of a vehicle over the limit as 3 months, up to £2,500 and a possible ban.

Is drink driving gross misconduct for a police officer?

Not by definition. The 2025 amendment that treats a conviction as gross misconduct applies only to indictable-only offences (regulation 2(1) and (2A)), and drink driving is summary only. The force assesses the conduct on its facts. The College of Policing's outcomes guidance (2022) says:

it is "unacceptable for police officers, who are responsible for enforcing the law, to break the law themselves" (para 4.17);
the sentence a court imposes "is not necessarily a reliable guide to seriousness" in misconduct proceedings, and a relatively minor offence "may be of the utmost gravity in the professional context" (para 4.18);
panels cannot question the conviction or sentence but can form their own view of the gravity of the offending (para 4.19);
"any criminal conviction will be serious and will be likely to have an adverse impact on public confidence in policing" (para 4.21).

The guidance does not single out drink driving or give a tariff for it. Its general aggravating and mitigating factors (paras 4.76 and 4.81) are what a panel works through. In a drink-driving case, facts such as a collision or injury to someone, a police vehicle, being on or about to start duty, use of police status or concealment are likely to be weighed against a single brief episode, open admissions at an early stage, genuine remorse and insight, and any medical condition or stress that affected judgement. Those examples are ours, mapped onto the guidance's lists.

On duty, or driving to work

On duty, or when presenting for duty, the Fitness for Duty standard also applies. A drink- or drug-driving offence in a police vehicle combines the criminal offence with an abuse of the trust placed in a police driver, and the outcomes guidance says culpability rises where the officer was in a position of trust or responsibility (para 4.12). Your force may also have its own alcohol and drugs policy; we did not review force policies.

Off duty

The College guidance says a conviction or caution "may relate to on-duty or off-duty conduct" (para 4.19). Discreditable Conduct applies whether on or off duty. Off duty, the main extra questions are whether you reported promptly, whether you mentioned your job to gain advantage when stopped, and whether your account has been consistent.

The vetting route is now separate and may be decisive

Even if the conduct case ends with a warning, a drink-driving conviction is "any other offence" under regulation 5D(3) of the Vetting Regulations, so you are treated as unsuitable to hold clearance unless there are particular circumstances relevant to your case. If the court imposed a custodial sentence, the stricter test in regulation 5D(2)(a) applies: unsuitable unless there are exceptional circumstances. See vetting after a conviction.

Careless or dangerous driving, and offences causing death or serious injury

The legal tests are in the Road Traffic Act 1988. Driving is careless if it "falls below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver" (section 3ZA(2)), and dangerous if it "falls far below" that standard and it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving that way would be dangerous (section 2A(1)). Off duty, those ordinary tests apply to an officer like anyone else. On duty, a different comparator can apply (see on-duty collisions).

Careless driving is summary only with 3 to 9 points or a discretionary ban. It is often dealt with by fixed penalty or a course. A conviction brings in vetting regulation 5D(3); a paid fixed penalty does not.
Dangerous driving is triable either way, with up to 2 years' imprisonment on indictment and obligatory disqualification. A conviction is likely to be assessed as serious, but it is not automatically gross misconduct because the offence is not indictable-only.
Causing serious injury by dangerous driving (5 years) and causing death by careless driving (5 years) are also either-way offences.
Causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs carry life imprisonment and are triable only on indictment, as is causing death by driving while disqualified (10 years). A conviction for any of them is gross misconduct by definition under the Conduct Regulations.

Off-duty conduct alleged to be a "relevant offence" (one with a sentence fixed by law, or one for which an adult with no previous convictions could be sentenced to 7 years or more) must be referred to the IOPC under regulation 7 of the Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2020. On our reading of the maximum penalties, that captures causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving under the influence and causing death by driving while disqualified, but not dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving or causing death by careless driving. The IOPC then decides how the matter is investigated; see IOPC investigations explained.

Driving while disqualified, without a licence or without insurance

Driving while disqualified is a summary offence with up to 6 months' imprisonment, 6 points and a further discretionary ban (Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, Schedule 2). For a police officer, the difficulty is less the penalty than the facts: it is a knowing breach of a court order, which goes directly to integrity and culpability under the outcomes guidance. A conviction triggers vetting regulation 5D(3), or 5D(2)(a) if a custodial sentence is imposed.

Driving without insurance (section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988) is mentioned in the College guidance as an example of a non-recordable offence. The guidance says an offence "need not be a recordable offence to be considered serious", but that being non-recordable "may be a relevant consideration in less serious cases – for example, those involving some motoring offences" (para 4.24 and footnote 65).

Driving a police vehicle while disqualified, or without the licence category the vehicle needs, also breaches the College of Policing APP, which says "all police drivers must hold a full Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) licence for the category of vehicle being driven", and force driving policy (Orders and Instructions).

Honesty: false accounts and who was driving

The most serious driving cases for officers are often not about the driving at all, but about what was said afterwards. The Honesty and Integrity standard says "police officers are honest, act with integrity and do not compromise or abuse their position."

Naming someone else as the driver, or taking someone else's points. The registered keeper must give information about who was driving when required (Road Traffic Act 1988, section 172); failing to do so is an offence carrying 6 points. Giving false information about the driver can be prosecuted as perverting the course of justice, which the CPS describes as triable only on indictment with a maximum of life imprisonment. A conviction for an indictable-only offence is gross misconduct by definition (regulation 2(1) and (2A)).
A false account to your force or the investigator. The College guidance says cases "involving any form of dishonesty on duty will always be serious" (para 4.30), and that a dishonest statement "in an official or otherwise solemn document" is at the more serious end of off-duty dishonesty (para 4.32). A false collision report, pocket notebook entry or statement after an on-duty incident would usually be treated as operational dishonesty, which the guidance places in its most serious category (paras 4.26 to 4.28).
Using your status. The guidance names "using their status as a police officer to act dishonestly or otherwise exert improper influence" as a serious case (para 4.32). Mentioning your job to the officer who stops you, or asking colleagues to look at a ticket, can create a conduct issue where there otherwise was little or none.

The practical point

No rule we found treats a paid speeding ticket as a threat to a career. A false nomination to avoid that same ticket can end one, because a perverting conviction is gross misconduct by definition. If you are unsure who was driving, say so and take advice before answering a notice of intended prosecution; do not guess and do not name someone to keep points off your licence.

On-duty driving: collisions, pursuits and response driving

On-duty driving incidents follow different routes from off-duty offences, and much of the process is set by force driving policy and the College of Policing's police driving APP rather than by the Conduct Regulations. What we could source is below.

The legal standard for police drivers

Since 26 October 2022, sections 2A and 3ZA of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022) apply a different test when a constable or other designated person is driving for police purposes and has undertaken prescribed training. Their driving is careless if it falls below, and dangerous if it falls far below, "what would be expected of a competent and careful constable who has undertaken the same prescribed training", rather than an ordinary competent and careful driver.

The prescribed training is in the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) Regulations 2022, in force 30 November 2022. They list the prescribed courses (among them standard response driving, advanced driving, initial phase pursuit and tactical phase pursuit), how long each stays valid (for most courses between 2 and 5 years; a few have unlimited validity) and the refresher training needed after that, and in England and Wales require the training to be delivered by a provider licensed by the College of Policing. The joint Police Federation and NPCC advice to drivers says officers must be up to date with their training, that an officer who is out of date "will not be covered" even if reassured by a supervisor, and that after an incident the questions include whether the driver was in date, whether the training unit was accredited, whether the tactic used had been trained, and whether it was performed to the right standard.

Exemptions do not remove the duty of care

Section 87 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 disapplies speed limits for a vehicle used for police purposes where observing the limit "would be likely to hinder" that use. The APP says that even where an exemption exists, "the police driver must always give due regard to their driving manner and behaviour."

Collisions with no death or serious injury

The APP says "where driving falls below the expected standards, resulting in an incident, forces should investigate, review, act proportionately and make any necessary interventions." In practice this is handled under force policy, often by a driving standards or collision review. Depending on the findings, the outcome can be no action, further training, reflective practice for practice requiring improvement, or a conduct case if the driving or a breach of policy is serious enough. We found no national rule setting thresholds.

Death or serious injury: IOPC referral

Where someone dies or is seriously injured and, at or before that time, they had contact (direct or indirect) with a person serving with the police acting in the execution of their duties, and there is an indication that the contact may have caused or contributed to it, it is a death or serious injury (DSI) matter (Police Reform Act 2002, section 12(2A) to (2C)). DSI matters must be referred to the IOPC. The IOPC's Focus guidance on referrals (updated March 2026) uses pursuits as an example and says that where an incident crosses force boundaries, each force involved must assess and refer its own involvement.

A DSI investigation is not itself a conduct investigation. If, during it, there is an indication that an officer may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a way that would justify disciplinary proceedings, the investigator or IOPC must make a determination and notify the force, and the matter proceeds as a conduct matter (Police Reform Act 2002, Schedule 3, paragraph 21A). From then on, the usual notices, rights and investigation rights apply.

The numbers

The IOPC recorded 15 police-related road traffic fatalities in England and Wales in 2025/26, 11 of them resulting from pursuit-related activity and 2 from emergency response (report summary, 30 July 2026).
In the Home Office's misconduct statistics for the year to 31 March 2025, allegations in the IOPC category "use of police vehicles" had the highest proportion of case-to-answer allegations referred to misconduct proceedings: 92%, against 81% across all categories. The release does not say how many allegations that was in the text we read.

Why the training record matters to you

The trained-constable comparator applies only if your prescribed training was in date and you were driving for police purposes. Before any interview after a collision or pursuit, ask your representative to obtain your training record, the force's pursuit or response authorisation for that deployment, and any in-vehicle or control room recordings.

Severity assessment and the realistic range of outcomes

Once a driving matter is a conduct matter, the usual process applies. The force decides whether the conduct, if proved, would be misconduct, gross misconduct or neither (regulation 14). Misconduct goes to a misconduct meeting, where only a written or final written warning is possible; gross misconduct goes to a hearing or, where the special conditions are met, an accelerated misconduct hearing (regulation 49). See meeting vs hearing.

The panel must have regard to the College of Policing's outcomes guidance. In summary: assess seriousness by culpability, harm, aggravating factors and mitigating factors; keep in mind that the purpose of sanctions is to maintain public confidence, uphold standards and protect the public; then choose the least severe outcome that deals adequately with the case. Personal mitigation such as references comes after the seriousness assessment. Full detail is in sanctions explained.

Mitigating factors in the guidance (para 4.81)A single episode or brief duration; limited involvement; acting in good faith for a legitimate policing purpose; mental ill health, a medical condition or stress affecting the officer's ability to cope; being required to act outside your experience or without appropriate training or supervision; open admissions at an early stage; early action to reduce harm; genuine remorse, insight and accepting responsibility.

Aggravating factors in the guidance (para 4.76)Among others: abuse of trust, position or powers; concealing wrongdoing or blaming others; repeated behaviour; continuing after you realised it was improper; serious impact on a victim; significant deviation from an order, force policy or national guidance; failing to seek advice; leadership responsibility; and multiple proven allegations.

Non-recordable motoring offencesThe guidance says the fact that an offence is non-recordable "may be a relevant consideration in less serious cases – for example, those involving some motoring offences" (para 4.24).

Penalty noticesThe guidance treats an undisputed penalty notice for disorder or crime as a conviction for its purposes (footnote 63). That footnote refers to penalty notices for disorder, not road traffic fixed penalties.

What we could not find

Neither the College guidance, nor the Home Office statutory guidance (2020), nor the Home Office misconduct statistics give a tariff or outcome figures for drink driving, speeding or other off-duty road traffic offences. Anyone quoting a typical sanction for a police drink-drive conviction is giving an opinion, not a published rule.

What changed on 28 May 2025

The Police (Conduct, Performance and Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/558) made two changes that matter for serious driving cases:

Indictable-only convictions are gross misconduct. The definition of gross misconduct now says "conduct which has resulted in conviction of an indictable-only offence is to be taken to constitute such a breach" (regulation 2(1)). An offence is indictable-only if, committed by an adult, it is triable only on indictment (regulation 2(2A)). For driving, that means causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving under the influence, causing death by driving while disqualified, and perverting the course of justice. It does not include drink driving, dangerous driving or causing death by careless driving.
Dismissal is the expected outcome for gross misconduct. Where gross misconduct is found, the disciplinary action must be dismissal without notice unless the panel is satisfied that exceptional circumstances justify a final written warning or reduction in rank (regulations 42(3)(b) and 62(1)). Before that date, the panel could choose any of the three without an exceptional circumstances test.

Which version applies depends on when the allegation came to the attention of the force or the IOPC and, for the outcome rules, whether you had already been given notice of referral before 28 May 2025 (SI 2025/558, regulation 64). If your case straddles that date, ask your representative. More in gross misconduct explained.

Vetting after a driving conviction

Since 13 July 2026, regulation 5D of the Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 (inserted by SI 2026/653) sets presumptions whenever a vetting authority assesses an officer's suitability:

Regulation 5D(2): an officer convicted of an offence for which the court imposed a custodial sentence, or convicted or cautioned for a listed offence or an offence involving domestic abuse, is not suitable unless there are exceptional circumstances. None of the listed offences in the Schedule is a road traffic offence.
Regulation 5D(3): an officer convicted of, or cautioned for, "any other offence" is not suitable "unless there are particular circumstances relevant to the officer's case which justify the officer being regarded as suitable".

So a drink-driving conviction, a speeding conviction at court, or a careless driving conviction falls under regulation 5D(3), and a driving conviction with a custodial sentence falls under 5D(2)(a). A paid fixed penalty is not a conviction, so on our reading neither presumption applies to it.

The vetting authority makes a vetting severity assessment when information reaches it (regulation 15): if the matter could reasonably lead to withdrawal of clearance, there must be a withdrawal assessment; if not, it can refer the matter to the conduct or performance procedures or take no further action. Withdrawal of clearance means dismissal without notice, with a right of appeal. See failing vetting as a serving officer.

Older driving convictions can be looked at again

Where a vetting authority already knew before 13 July 2026 that an officer had been convicted or cautioned, that information "is to be treated as coming to the attention of the vetting authority immediately after the commencement date", even if it had previously found the officer suitable (SI 2026/653, regulation 28(5) and (6)). In other words, a drink-driving conviction from before you joined, or from earlier in your service, can be assessed under the new presumptions. Separately, after any misconduct meeting or hearing that does not end in dismissal and concluded on or after 13 July 2026, the vetting authority must assess whether you remain suitable (regulation 5A(3)).

Driving bans, penalty points and roles that need a licence

We found no regulation that removes a driving authorisation, a firearms authority or a specialist post because of points or a ban, and no regulation that requires dismissal for losing a licence. The national rules we could verify are these:

You cannot drive police vehicles while disqualified. The College APP says all police drivers must hold a full DVLA licence for the category of vehicle being driven, and driving while disqualified is an offence in any vehicle.
Response, advanced and pursuit driving need authorisation and in-date training. The APP says response drivers "must be qualified and authorised to the standards prescribed in the Police Driving Curriculum", and the trained-constable test applies only with in-date prescribed training.
Points alone do not disqualify you nationally until the court imposes a ban (normally at 12 points in 3 years, or 6 points within 2 years of passing your test for new drivers).

Everything else is force policy: whether a force suspends a driving permit when an officer is charged or reaches a set number of points, how it checks licences, and whether it redeploys an officer from response, roads policing, an armed response role or another post where driving is essential. Ask for the policy in writing and which provision it relies on. Our candidate guide notes that each force decides whether a licence is required to join; if yours required one, ask how its policy treats a later ban.

A ban is likely to mean non-driving duties for its length, arranged under force policy. Whether that affects shift patterns, overtime opportunities or a specialist allowance depends on the role and force; basic pay is set by your rank and pay point, not by whether you can drive.

Suspension and restricted duties

For allegations that came to the force's attention on or after 13 July 2026, regulation 11 of the Conduct Regulations requires the force to suspend if the effective investigation may be prejudiced or "the public interest otherwise requires" it, after considering whether temporary redeployment to alternative duties or an alternative location is an appropriate alternative. Suspension is with pay (regulation 11(3)), and you can make representations within 7 working days; the force must review it within 12 weeks and then at least every 12 weeks (regulation 11A).

No presumption for driving offences. The presumption of suspension after arrest (regulation 11C) and automatic suspension on charge (regulation 11F) apply to listed offences in Schedule 3, which are sexual, stalking, forced marriage, FGM and similar offences, and to offences assessed as domestic abuse. Road traffic offences are not listed.
Three working days if gross misconduct is alleged alongside a criminal investigation. Where you are under criminal investigation and the conduct has been assessed as gross misconduct if proved, the force must decide whether the suspension condition is met within 3 working days (regulation 11B).
Restricted or adjusted duties are how forces use the redeployment alternative. Removing your driving permit while a matter is investigated is a force decision under its policy.

For older cases, earlier rules may apply. More in suspension and restricted duties and arrested or charged: what happens next.

Pay and pension consequences

While under investigation. Suspension is on pay. Schedule 2 to the Police Regulations 2003 removes pay for any period you are serving a prison sentence or are in custody between conviction and sentence, and limits allowances during suspension. Ask payroll which allowances continue.
After a warning. A written or final written warning does not reduce basic pay. A reduction in rank (available only at a hearing) puts you on the lower rank's scale.
After dismissal. Pay stops from the date dismissal is notified to you (regulation 42(4)). Dismissal does not in itself remove the pension you have built up. In the 2015 scheme, forfeiture under regulation 211 of the Police Pensions Regulations 2015 needs a conviction for an offence committed in connection with your service and a Home Secretary's forfeiture certificate (or specified official secrets or national security offences with long sentences). The 1987 and 2006 schemes have their own provisions.

For what happens to deferred benefits and timing by scheme, see what happens to my police pension if dismissed. To see your own figures under each outcome, use the Police Pension Exit Report.

The barred list and future employment

Only dismissal (or, for someone who has left, a finding that they would have been dismissed) leads to the police barred list. The force must report you to the College of Policing within 5 working days, and the College must include you on the list (Police Act 1996, sections 88A and 88B). For conduct dismissals, your name, force, rank and the reasons are normally published for 5 years. From 21 September 2026, no law enforcement employer, including any police force, the NCA, the IOPC and the College of Policing, may employ or appoint a barred person (Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 205).

Resigning during an investigation does not avoid this: proceedings can continue against former officers, and you would be reported for the advisory list. See the barred list explained and resigning before a hearing.

The first 48 hours: general steps

General information only. Your representative or solicitor can tailor this to your case.

If you are arrested or interviewed, you have the same rights as anyone else, including a solicitor at the police station (PACE, section 58). Use them. Do not rely on your knowledge of the procedure instead of advice.
Contact your Federation representative (or the Superintendents' Association) early. Ask whether legal assistance is available for your circumstances; we could not verify current funding rules. See representation and legal support.
Report through the channel your force policy names, as soon as reasonably practical: arrest, charge, summons, endorsable fixed penalty, conviction or court condition. Consider whether you also need to notify the vetting unit (Vetting Regulations, regulation 5(1)(b)).
Report the fact, not the story. Say what happened procedurally (for example, "I was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and released"). Take advice before giving any account of the facts to your force.
Do not drive a police vehicle if you are disqualified, have had your licence revoked, or have been told your permit is suspended.
Never nominate a false driver or ask anyone to take points for you. Do not contact colleagues about the case or check police systems about it.
Keep copies of every notice, the date you received it, what you reported and to whom.
Look after yourself. Ask who your welfare contact is. Confidential support is in the support services directory.

Common myths about driving offences and the job

"A speeding ticket is a criminal record."A paid fixed penalty discharges liability to conviction (RTOA s 52(1)). It is still reportable to your force as an endorsable fixed penalty.

"Drink driving means automatic dismissal."It is not indictable-only, so it is not gross misconduct by definition. But the conduct case and the vetting presumption in reg 5D(3) both apply.

"Off duty in my own car is none of the force's business."Discreditable Conduct applies "whether on or off duty" and includes the duty to report.

"A warning means it is over."Since 13 July 2026, the vetting authority must also assess you after misconduct proceedings, and a conviction carries its own vetting presumption.

"Blue lights mean the speed limit does not apply, full stop."The s 87 exemption applies only for police purposes where the limit would hinder that use, and the careless and dangerous driving offences still apply, judged against a trained constable.

"Losing my licence means losing my job."No regulation requires that. It means no police driving, and probably redeployment under force policy.

"An old conviction has already been dealt with."SI 2026/653 treats known convictions as coming to the vetting authority's attention again on 13 July 2026.

"If I am dismissed I lose my pension."Forfeiture needs a qualifying conviction and, in the 2015 scheme, a Home Secretary's certificate.

Questions to ask your representative

General information only. Your representative can apply these to your case:

Is this a fixed penalty, a course or a court matter, and what does each mean for the conduct case and for vetting?
Should I accept the fixed penalty or contest it, given that a conviction at court triggers regulation 5D(3)?
What exactly must I report, to whom, and by when under my force's policy? Do I also need to tell the vetting unit?
What severity assessment has the force made, and is any part of it about honesty rather than driving?
Is the offence indictable-only? If not, what arguments are there against a gross misconduct assessment?
Which version of the rules applies, given when the matter came to the force's attention (28 May 2025 and 13 July 2026)?
For an on-duty incident: was my prescribed training in date, was the tactic trained, and has the force obtained the recordings?
Has the matter been referred to the IOPC, and who is investigating?
What will happen to my driving permit and role, under which policy, and how is that reviewed?
What mitigation, references and evidence of insight should I gather now, for both the conduct case and any vetting assessment?
Is legal funding available for the criminal case, the conduct case or both?

What we could not verify

Typical outcomes for drink driving or other road traffic offences. The College guidance, Home Office statutory guidance and Home Office statistics give no tariff or offence-level figures. We give none.
How vetting authorities apply "particular circumstances" to motoring convictions. Regulation 5D(3) is new and we found no published guidance or decisions on it.
Whether a suspended sentence counts as a "custodial sentence" for regulation 5D(2)(a). The Vetting Regulations do not define the term.
Whether speed awareness courses must be reported. The Code of Ethics list does not mention them; force policies may.
National rules on driving permits, points thresholds or redeployment. None found; these are force policy. The College APP pages were read through the College's production mirror because the main site returned 403.
CPS guidance on false driver nominations. We confirmed from the CPS that perverting the course of justice is indictable-only, but did not find CPS guidance specifically on charging false nominations; the statement that these can be prosecuted as perverting rests on general legal commentary.
Drug-driving maximum term. The revised legislation shows a 51-week figure for England and Wales that appears to depend on a provision we could not confirm is in force.
Whether training is a condition of the police speed exemption. Section 87 as shown on legislation.gov.uk contains a training condition only for National Crime Agency vehicles; we could not confirm the position for police drivers.
Whether an on-duty driving conviction could lead to pension forfeiture. Regulation 211 requires an offence in connection with service and a Home Secretary's certificate; we found no published example involving driving.
Newer College outcomes guidance. The latest edition we could read is August 2022; we could not confirm whether it has been updated for the 2025 dismissal presumption.
Federation legal funding rules for driving matters. Ask your branch.

Quick answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a police officer be sacked for drink driving?

Yes, but not automatically. Drink driving is a summary offence, so a conviction is not one of the indictable-only offences that the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 treat as gross misconduct by definition. The force assesses the conduct against the Standards of Professional Behaviour, and the College of Policing's outcomes guidance says any criminal conviction is serious. Since 13 July 2026 a conviction also means you are presumed unsuitable to hold vetting clearance unless particular circumstances justify otherwise (Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025, reg 5D(3)), and withdrawal of clearance leads to dismissal.

Can a police officer keep their job after drink driving?

It is possible, but both routes now have to be cleared. On conduct, the panel weighs culpability, harm, aggravating and mitigating factors under the College guidance, and outcomes for misconduct range from a written warning upwards. On vetting, reg 5D(3) presumes unsuitability after any conviction unless there are particular circumstances relevant to your case. A custodial sentence moves you into the stricter exceptional circumstances test in reg 5D(2). We found no national tariff that fixes the result.

Will a police officer be sacked for speeding?

A speeding fixed penalty that you accept and pay is not a conviction: a fixed penalty notice offers the chance to discharge liability to conviction by paying (Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, s 52(1)). You must report an endorsable fixed penalty to your force under the Code of Ethics guidance. We found no rule or guidance that treats a paid speeding ticket as misconduct in itself, but dangerous speed, a court conviction (which brings in the vetting presumption in reg 5D(3)) or lying about who was driving can change the picture sharply.

Do police officers have to report speeding tickets?

Yes, if the ticket is an endorsable fixed penalty. The Discreditable Conduct standard requires officers to report any action taken against them for a criminal offence and the receipt of any penalty notice (Conduct Regulations, Schedule 2), and the College of Policing's Code of Ethics guidance lists an endorsable fixed penalty notice for a road traffic offence among the things to report as soon as reasonably practical. The guidance does not mention speed awareness courses; if unsure, it says seek advice.

What happens to a police officer who is banned from driving?

The ban itself does not end police service; no regulation we found requires dismissal for losing a licence. But the College of Policing's police driving APP says all police drivers must hold a full DVLA licence for the category of vehicle driven, so you cannot drive police vehicles while disqualified. Roles that depend on driving are managed under force policy, usually by redeployment. Separately, the conviction that led to the ban is dealt with as a conduct and vetting matter.

Is a police officer caught drink driving off duty dealt with differently from on duty?

The criminal law is the same. For conduct, the Discreditable Conduct standard applies whether on or off duty, and the College guidance says a conviction or caution may relate to on- or off-duty conduct. On duty, the Fitness for Duty standard also applies, and driving a police vehicle while unfit adds harm and abuse-of-trust factors that the outcomes guidance treats as aggravating.

Does a driving conviction end a police career?

Not automatically, unless it is one of the offences treated as gross misconduct and no exceptional circumstances are found. Conviction of an indictable-only offence, such as causing death by dangerous driving or perverting the course of justice, is gross misconduct by definition (Conduct Regulations, reg 2(1) and (2A), from 28 May 2025), and the outcome for gross misconduct is then dismissal unless there are exceptional circumstances. For other convictions, the conduct case and the vetting presumption in reg 5D both apply.

What happens if a police officer crashes on duty?

Most collisions are reviewed by the force under its driving policy; the College of Policing APP says forces should investigate, review, act proportionately and make any necessary interventions. If someone dies or is seriously injured and police contact may have contributed, it is a death or serious injury (DSI) matter that must be referred to the IOPC (Police Reform Act 2002, s 12 and Sch 3). If an investigation finds an indication of a criminal offence or misconduct, it becomes a conduct case (Sch 3, para 21A).

Are police drivers judged by a different standard for careless or dangerous driving?

Yes, in some cases. Since 26 October 2022, sections 2A and 3ZA of the Road Traffic Act 1988 judge a constable driving for police purposes who has undertaken prescribed training against a competent and careful constable with the same prescribed training, not an ordinary driver. The training is set by the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) Regulations 2022, in force 30 November 2022, and must be in date.

Do I have to tell vetting about a driving conviction?

Yes. Regulation 5(1)(b) of the Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 requires officers to promptly notify the vetting authority of any change in personal circumstances or other matter which may reasonably affect suitability to hold vetting clearance. Under the transitional rules, a conviction the vetting authority already knew about before 13 July 2026 is treated as coming to its attention just after that date (SI 2026/653, reg 28(5) and (6)).

Will I lose my pension if I am dismissed after a driving offence?

Dismissal does not in itself take away pension you have built up. In the 2015 scheme, forfeiture needs a conviction for an offence committed in connection with police service plus a Home Secretary's forfeiture certificate, or specified official secrets or national security offences (Police Pensions Regulations 2015, reg 211). The 1987 and 2006 schemes have their own rules. Check your own position with your administrator.

Can I be suspended for a drink-driving arrest?

You can be, but it is not presumed. Drink and drug driving are not listed offences in Schedule 3 to the Conduct Regulations, so the presumption of suspension in reg 11C does not apply. The general test in reg 11 does: the force must suspend if the investigation may be prejudiced or the public interest requires it, after considering redeployment. If the conduct is assessed as gross misconduct while a criminal investigation runs, the force must decide within 3 working days (reg 11B). Suspension is on pay.

Evidence

Sources and how we checked them

Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 3 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.

The Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/4), latest revised text, legislation.gov.uk — reg 2(1) definitions of misconduct, gross misconduct (including indictable-only convictions) and disciplinary action; reg 2(2A); reg 2(7) practice requiring improvement; regs 11, 11A, 11B and 11C (suspension); reg 14 (severity assessment); reg 42 (outcomes); reg 49 (accelerated hearings); Schedule 2 (Standards of Professional Behaviour); Schedule 3 (listed offences) (accessed 3 October 2026)
The Police (Conduct, Performance and Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/558) — dismissal without notice for gross misconduct unless exceptional circumstances; indictable-only convictions; transitional rules in reg 64 (accessed 3 October 2026)
The Police (Conduct and Vetting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/653), as made — new suspension regime and vetting reg 5D from 13 July 2026; listed offences (none are road traffic offences); vetting transitional rules in reg 28 (accessed 3 October 2026)
The Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/502), latest revised text — reg 5(1) duty to hold clearance and promptly notify changes; reg 5A(3) review after misconduct proceedings; reg 5D suitability after convictions and cautions; reg 15 vetting severity assessment (accessed 3 October 2026)
Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, Schedule 2 and sections 34, 35, 52, 57A and 78, legislation.gov.uk — mode of trial, maximum penalties, disqualification and points for each offence; minimum 12 month disqualification and the 3 year repeat rule; totting up at 12 points; fixed penalties discharge liability to conviction (accessed 3 October 2026)
Road Traffic Act 1988, sections 2A and 3ZA (as amended by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022) — competent and careful constable test for police drivers with prescribed training, in force 26 October 2022 (SI 2022/1075) (accessed 3 October 2026)
The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/1112) — prescribed initial and refresher courses, in force 30 November 2022; training delivered by a provider licensed by the College of Policing (accessed 3 October 2026)
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, section 87, legislation.gov.uk — speed limit exemption for vehicles used for police purposes where observing the limit would be likely to hinder that use (accessed 3 October 2026)
Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995, section 2, and GOV.UK: Speeding penalties — £100 and 3 points minimum; speed awareness course; court fines; 6 points within 2 years of passing revokes a licence; 12 points in 3 years (accessed 3 October 2026)
GOV.UK: Drink-driving penalties — maximum penalties and minimum bans for drink-driving offences (accessed 3 October 2026)
Police Reform Act 2002, section 12 and Schedule 3 paragraph 21A, legislation.gov.uk — definition of a death or serious injury (DSI) matter; procedure when a conduct matter is revealed during a DSI investigation (accessed 3 October 2026)
College of Policing: Guidance on outcomes in police misconduct proceedings (2022 edition, PDF) — paras 4.3 to 4.12 (seriousness), 4.17 to 4.24 (convictions and cautions, including non-recordable motoring offences), 4.26 to 4.32 (dishonesty) (accessed 3 October 2026)
College of Policing: Guidance for ethical and professional behaviour in policing (Code of Ethics), read via the College's production mirror — report an endorsable fixed penalty notice for a road traffic offence, arrest, charge and conviction as soon as reasonably practical (accessed 3 October 2026)
College of Policing APP: Police driving (updated 8 May 2025), read via the College's production mirror — police drivers must hold a full DVLA licence for the category driven; forces should investigate, review and act proportionately after incidents (accessed 3 October 2026)
Police Federation of England and Wales and NPCC: Advice to police drivers in the light of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (PDF) — officers must be in date with prescribed training; the questions asked after an incident (accessed 3 October 2026)
Home Office: Police misconduct, England and Wales: year ending 31 March 2025 (published 22 January 2026) — 'use of police vehicles' allegations with a case to answer: 92% referred to proceedings (accessed 3 October 2026)
Home Office: Conduct, Efficiency and Effectiveness: Statutory Guidance (version 1.0, February 2020) — checked for driving-specific guidance; none found (accessed 3 October 2026)
IOPC: Annual deaths during or following police contact, England and Wales 2025/26, report summary (30 July 2026, PDF) — 15 police-related road traffic fatalities, 11 pursuit-related (accessed 3 October 2026)
IOPC Focus, issue 9: Referrals (fourth update, March 2026, PDF) — DSI referrals including pursuits; each force involved in a cross-border pursuit refers separately (accessed 3 October 2026)
Crown Prosecution Service: Public justice offences, incorporating the charging standard — perverting the course of justice is triable only on indictment, maximum life imprisonment (accessed 3 October 2026)
The Police Pensions Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/445), regulation 211 — forfeiture of pension for offences (accessed 3 October 2026)
Police Act 1996, sections 88A and 88B; Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 205 — dismissed officers reported for the barred list; law enforcement employers may not employ barred persons from 21 September 2026 (accessed 3 October 2026)

Related Guides

On this topic elsewhere

Arrested or Charged → The criminal case and the conduct case side by side. Failing Vetting → How withdrawal of clearance leads to dismissal. Off-Duty Conduct → What the Standards expect outside work. IOPC Investigations → Referral, mode of investigation and what follows. Sanctions Explained → Warnings, reduction in rank and dismissal. Pension if Dismissed → Dismissal and forfeiture by scheme.

Police misconduct

More in this guide series

Start here Misconduct hub The conduct process, outcomes, appeals, pension consequences and your rights. Pillar Misconduct explained The whole conduct process in one place: what counts, who decides, the stages and the possible outcomes. Rights Under investigation Notice of investigation, what you must be told, interviews, representation and what to avoid. Timescales How long it takes The time limits in the regulations, what the data shows and what delay means for you. Process Meeting vs hearing Who sits, who can represent you, public hearings, time limits and appeals. Outcomes Sanctions explained What each outcome means, how long warnings last and the effect on pay, promotion and pension. IOPC IOPC investigations When the IOPC investigates, how it differs from a force investigation and what happens next. Criminal Arrested or investigated How a criminal investigation runs alongside misconduct, and the suspension rules in force from July 2026. Conduct Social media and off-duty How the Standards of Professional Behaviour apply outside work, with the College of Policing guidance. Support Representation and legal support Who can represent you, what the Federation provides and what you may have to fund yourself. Performance Performance vs misconduct The performance and attendance procedures, the 2025 change to two stages and the route to dismissal. Outcomes Examples and outcomes What counts as misconduct or gross misconduct, category by category, and what tends to follow. Barred list Barred list How to search the list, what it shows, who is on it, the jobs it bars and when you can apply for removal. Outcomes Final written warning When it can be given, how long it stays live, and what it means for a second case, promotion and vetting. Legal help Solicitors and legal cover When a lawyer can act for you, Federation funding, legal expenses insurance, legal aid, fees and a checklist before you instruct.

Also on PolicePay

Related rights, pay and welfare

Calculator Pension exit report What you keep in pounds if you resign, retire or are dismissed, by scheme. Pension Pension after dismissal What happens to your pension if you are dismissed, and when it can be forfeited. Welfare Support services Confidential support for officers and staff, including during an investigation. Hub Misconduct hub The full list of misconduct guides.

Disclaimer

PolicePay.co.uk is an independent reference site. It is not a law firm or a representative body, and this page is general information, not legal advice. Conduct, performance and complaints procedures are set by regulations, statutory guidance and your force's own policies, all of which are amended from time to time, and the outcome of any case turns on its facts. If you are under investigation or facing proceedings, speak to your Police Federation or staff association representative or a solicitor about your own case. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 3 October 2026.

Driving Offences and Your Police Job