(Image: Gwent Police)
Last Updated: 1 minute ago
A misconduct hearing has determined that a former student officer would have been dismissed from Gwent Police after he was caught carrying out work at a post office during a period of sick leave.
The allegations
Former PC Cullen Gough-Nicholls faced three allegations at an accelerated misconduct hearing on Monday 9 March, which he did not attend.
The panel heard that on five occasions in September last year, the former officer was working at a post office despite being signed off sick and deemed unfit to carry out any duties for the force.
He was also accused of giving false or misleading statements to the service on three separate occasions in 2025 regarding his fitness to work and his connection to the post office.
A further allegation stated he had failed to declare the post office as a business interest, in breach of approved organisational policy.
The outcome
Assistant Chief Constable Nick McLain chaired the panel and found all three allegations proven. The breaches fell under the standards of honesty and integrity, duties and responsibilities, and discreditable conduct.
The panel ruled that the former PC would have been dismissed had he not already resigned from the force during the investigation.
He will now be added to the College of Policing’s barred list.
Response from Gwent Police
ACC McLain said: “Our communities rightfully expect the police to uphold the highest standards of behaviour and not conduct themselves in a way which will cause public trust and confidence in the service to be undermined.
“The behaviour shown by this former officer illustrates a complete lack of professionalism but more alarmingly it was highly deceptive by taking on work when he suggested he was unfit to carry out any form of policing duty.
“The vast majority of our officers, staff and volunteers work tirelessly to keep Gwent safe; they are dedicated to their public duties when they come into work and show the utmost respect to our communities.
“Although this now former officer resigned during the investigation, it was correct for us to continue with the proceedings and take the action that we have.”
