Home / Crime and Justice / Retired Officer Accused of Disrespecting Dead Woman in Misconduct Hearing
Retired Officer Accused of Disrespecting Dead Woman in Misconduct Hearing
14 Nov
Summary
- Two police officers lied about woman's death to speed up ambulance
- Retired officer ordered junior to perform CPR on dead body
- Ambulance resources diverted from other emergency calls
In November 2021, two South Wales police officers, PS Stuart Hunter and PC Lisa Thomas, responded to a call about a deceased woman in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. The officers are now facing consequences for their actions during this incident.
According to the misconduct hearing, PS Hunter and PC Thomas lied to the Welsh Ambulance Service about the woman's condition in order to expedite the ambulance's arrival. PC Thomas allegedly provided a "false and misleading account" to the operator, implying the woman was still alive and there were prospects of saving her life, when the officers knew she had been dead for weeks.
The panel also found that PS Hunter, who has since retired, showed a "complete disregard for dignity in death" by ordering a junior officer to perform CPR on the woman's decomposing body. This was despite PS Hunter's belief that the woman had been deceased for approximately two to three weeks.
The actions of the two officers were deemed "disgraceful" by South Wales Police. While no actual harm was caused to other emergency calls, the panel found a "foreseeable likelihood of grave harm" due to the diversion of ambulance resources. Both officers were found guilty of gross misconduct, with PS Hunter facing dismissal if he was still a serving officer, and PC Thomas receiving the sanction of "dismissal without notice".
