Gwent Police officer dismissed following gross misconduct hearing

An officer has been dismissed from Gwent Police, after allegations of inappropriate conduct were found proven at a gross misconduct hearing today (2 December).

PC Simon Rohman was alleged to have been involved in a physical and verbal altercation with two members of the public in a bar in Cardiff on Thursday 30 September 2021.

During the altercation, CCTV footage showed PC Rohman hit a member of the public. His actions resulted in him being restrained by door staff in public view and arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

An investigation from Gwent Police’s professional standards department found that the former officer had breached the professional standards behaviour regarding ‘authority, respect and courtesy’, ‘discreditable conduct’ and ‘use of force’.

Gross misconduct

In an accelerated gross misconduct hearing, Chief Constable Pam Kelly ruled that the officer’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, taking the decision to dismiss the officer.

“Our communities deserve the highest of standards from officers. This off duty behaviour falls way below that standard,” she said.

“PC Rohman had every opportunity to walk away from a situation that was volatile, and this was much more than ‘two minutes of madness’.

“It was totally inappropriate behaviour and a standard I’m not prepared to accept at Gwent Police,.

“The vast majority of police officers, staff and volunteers, who work for Gwent Police conduct themselves impeccably and work tirelessly to protect the public.

“Those very few who choose to breach the standards expected of them undermine the public’s trust in policing.

“There is no room for this type of conduct in Gwent Police.”

The officer will now be placed on the College of Policing’s barred list.