A record number of police officers in England and Wales were sacked and barred from serving again in the past year, according to recently revealed data. A total of 757 officers, including high-ranking individuals, were added to the barred list between April 2025 and March 2026.
This figure surpasses the previous year's total of 735 officers. The reasons for dismissal were varied, with "dishonesty" being the most common cause, cited in 142 cases. Discriminatory behavior led to 110 officers being barred, while unlawful access or disclosure of information resulted in 101 dismissals.
Sexual offenses and misconduct were also significant factors, leading to the dismissal of 87 officers. Of these, five were cases of rape. The data from the College of Policing (CoP) also highlighted instances of officers being barred for less severe, but still serious, misconduct. These included 24 officers connected to "discriminatory WhatsApp groups," five for "keyboard jamming" (a tactic to circumvent computer activity monitoring), two for posting pornography online, and one for bullying behavior.
Officers convicted of serious offenses at court are automatically deemed to have committed gross misconduct and are routinely dismissed. However, the recent figures indicate an increase in dismissals for conduct that may not always meet the threshold for a custodial sentence.
Since the barred list was introduced in December 2017, more than 3,500 officers have been added to it. This effort aims to rebuild public trust, which has been eroded by high-profile cases involving police misconduct, such as the murders of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens and the serial sexual assaults by David Carrick.
The majority of those barred were constables (641), followed by sergeants (84). Higher ranks included 18 inspectors, five chief inspectors, five superintendents, and four chief superintendents. Notable dismissals among senior ranks include Chief Superintendent Matthew Thompson, sacked for lying about a personal relationship, and Chief Superintendent Tom Simons, dismissed for misconduct including having sex while on duty and abusing his seniority.
The Metropolitan Police had the highest number of officers added to the barred list with 195, followed by Greater Manchester Police with 46, and West Midlands Police with 38. These forces have the largest workforces in England and Wales.
In addition to sworn officers, 25 police specials were barred during the same period, and 348 police staff were dismissed, an increase from the previous year.