A former police officer has been banned from serving in any UK force for life after a misconduct panel found she made an unwanted sexual advance towards a senior male colleague during a night out.
The Night Out and Unwanted Advances
The hearing, held virtually by North Yorkshire Police, heard that former officer Brogan Canning attempted to kiss the colleague, referred to as PC A, on a social evening. The panel examined four allegations, including that Canning touched the man's leg, grabbed him by the neck to pull him closer, and told him "you know you want to".
Witness PC Nathan Mills described seeing Canning stroking the officer's hand, though PC A later clarified she had been stroking his leg. Another colleague, PC Megan Smith, stated Canning was "acting oddly throughout the night" and eventually put her in a taxi home. PC A rebuffed the advances, but was later asked bluntly by Canning: “Do you think I’m fit?”. He told the panel the incident left him feeling "angry and embarrassed" and that he had expected more professional behaviour.
Panel Findings and Force Response
The misconduct panel found the accounts from PC A and his colleagues to be credible. They ruled that Canning's actions constituted gross misconduct and were a "victimising and offensive" breach of professional standards. The panel's written statement noted that while Canning disputed some details due to impaired memory from alcohol, she did not contest the core allegations and had shown remorse.
Assistant chief officer Sarah Jackson, who chaired the hearing, stated the behaviour could damage public confidence in policing. She confirmed that Canning, who had resigned after the investigation began, would have been dismissed had she still been serving. The only appropriate sanction was to place her on the barred list, preventing any future police service in the UK.
Consequences and Final Ruling
In her own evidence, Canning, a mother, described her behaviour as "out-of-character". The panel acknowledged her previous good character and remorse but concluded the seriousness of the findings demanded the strongest outcome. Brogan Canning is now formally barred from working for any police force in the United Kingdom.
