A former Nottinghamshire Police constable has been dismissed from the force after using offensive and discriminatory language during a call to report a concern for a woman's safety.
Off-duty call leads to misconduct hearing
The incident occurred in October 2025 when former PC Joseph Stacey, who was off-duty at the time, contacted the police control room. He reported concerns for a woman's welfare, stating she was being stared at by a group of men.
However, during this call, Stacey used language that was deemed inappropriate, offensive and discriminatory by the force. His behaviour was immediately reported by control room staff, triggering a misconduct investigation.
Accelerated gross misconduct hearing
An accelerated gross misconduct hearing was held at Force HQ, Sherwood Lodge, on Monday, December 15, 2025. The hearing was chaired by Temporary Chief Constable Steve Cooper of Nottinghamshire Police.
Stacey was found to have breached multiple standards of professional behaviour, including:
- Equality and diversity
- Authority, respect and courtesy
- Discreditable conduct
Temporary Chief Constable Cooper stated: "The officer was clearly aware that he was acting in a manner which was discriminatory and would undoubtedly lead to the public being unable to have trust and confidence in him."
Zero tolerance for discriminatory behaviour
Emphasising the force's stance, Cooper added: "There is absolutely no place for this behaviour within our police service and therefore it was vitally important he was removed from his duties."
Joseph Stacey, who had joined Nottinghamshire Police in March 2022, was dismissed following the hearing. The case highlights the force's commitment to maintaining professional standards and public confidence, even when officers are off-duty.
