Former PC Jess Smith outcome

A former Devon & Cornwall Police Constable has been found culpable of gross misconduct following her conviction for malicious communications.

At an accelerated misconduct hearing on 21 August, Acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell found that, had Jess Smith still been a serving officer, she would have been dismissed without notice.

Her details have been submitted to the College of Policing Barred List.

Former PC Smith pleaded guilty to one count of malicious communications in June and was sentenced to an 18-month community order and a five-year restraining order at Exeter Crown Court in July 2024.

Smith, aged 33 and from Hayle, was working as a Police Constable in West Cornwall at the time of the offences, which occurred both on and off duty.

Jess Smith resigned from the force following her conviction.

A/CC Colwell concluded that the officers actions were of such ‘a poor standard’ and amounted Discreditable Conduct. In his report, he said: “Former PC Smith would have known she was committing a criminal offence in relation to the messaging she was targeting the victim with and this adds further discredit to the Force.”

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said: “The behaviour displayed by Jess Smith was completely inappropriate and not representative of how any police officer, or person, should behave.

“Behaviour of that manner is not welcome in policing or in our communities and it will not be tolerated. Day in, day out, officers strive to serve and protect their communities and I wish to reassure the public that behaviour of this nature will be dealt with robustly and swiftly.

Anyone can report any concerns directly to Devon & Cornwall Police by calling 101, or by emailing the counter corruption unit. Alternatively members of the public can contact the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

You can also report matters to the Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service, which is run by the independent charity Crimestoppers. Crimestoppers can take reports from the public about individuals working within Devon & Cornwall Police, as well as any police force in the UK, regardless of whether the information relates to them whilst they are on or off duty, online or in person. Reports can be submitted online and telephone (0800 085 0000) calls are free. Information received by Crimestoppers will be passed to the Force’s Counter Corruption Unit, who will assess it.