A police sergeant in Avon and Somerset has been dismissed after using a picture frame to hold down her laptop keys, creating the false impression she was working from home. The officer, identified only as Sergeant X, used this trick during most of her shifts in April and May last year.
The sergeant admitted she weighed down the laptop keys to prevent the device from entering “sleep mode” amid personal challenges. However, an investigation revealed her keystroke data was unusually high, ranging from three to eight times more than colleagues in similar roles.
Following a hearing, Sergeant X was dismissed without notice and banned from serving in any police or law enforcement role. The panel ruled her actions amounted to gross misconduct.
Detective Superintendent Larisa Hunt stated: “It is deeply disappointing that an officer would behave in a way that could discredit the police force and erode public confidence. While we recognize staff face high workloads and personal pressures, deliberately misleading the force about work activity is unacceptable.”
Avon and Somerset Police have emphasized that trust and accountability remain central to the force’s duties, and any breach undermines both the public and internal confidence in their work.
