The former secretary of the West Mercia Police Federation, who was jailed for defrauding the organisation of more than £55,000, has been banned from policing for life.
Craig Peters, 54, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison in November 2024 after pleading guilty to fraud by abuse of position. The misconduct hearing, held on 27 February 2025, concluded that his actions amounted to gross misconduct, resulting in the lifetime ban.
Details of the Fraud
Peters, who served as the secretary of the West Mercia Police Federation from 2016, used his position to authorise payments to himself for fictitious training courses and overtime. He also made fraudulent claims for expenses, including for a non-existent hotel stay and a conference that never took place. The total amount defrauded was £55,238.31.
The panel heard that Peters had been a police officer for 27 years before his arrest. He was suspended from duty in 2023 when the fraud was uncovered. The misconduct panel, chaired by an independent legally qualified chair, found that Peters had breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy, and discreditable conduct.
Misconduct Panel Findings
The panel determined that Peters' actions were deliberate and premeditated, involving a significant breach of trust. According to the panel report, Peters had abused his position for personal financial gain over a sustained period. The panel concluded that there was no suitable alternative to a dismissal without notice, and that a lifetime ban from policing was appropriate to maintain public confidence in the police service.
Chief Constable Richard Cooper of West Mercia Police said: “Craig Peters was a trusted police officer and a senior representative of the Police Federation. His actions were a complete betrayal of the trust placed in him by the public and his colleagues. The sentence handed down by the court and the outcome of this misconduct hearing send a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Impact on the Police Federation
The Police Federation is the staff association for police officers in England and Wales. The West Mercia branch has since implemented new financial controls to prevent similar frauds. A spokesperson for the West Mercia Police Federation said: “We are appalled by the actions of Craig Peters. He has let down his colleagues and the public. We have taken steps to strengthen our financial governance to ensure this cannot happen again.”
Peters will remain on the College of Policing barred list, meaning he cannot work in any policing role in the future. The lifetime ban applies to all police forces in England and Wales.
