Accelerated misconduct hearing concludes former officer would have been dismissed without notice

A former student police officer who was given a suspended prison sentence after admitting multiple child sex offences would have been dismissed without notice had she not resigned, a misconduct hearing panel has concluded.

Former PC Darcy Woods-Broady was also added to the police barred list following an accelerated misconduct hearing held at Police Headquarters on Wednesday 5 February.

The hearing was held after the former officer was given a two year prison sentence, suspended for two years at Worcester Crown Court in August last year.

She had previously pleading guilty to seven counts of sexual activity with a girl aged under 16 and inciting a girl aged under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences took place between October 2022 and March 2023 when former PC Woods-Broady was 20 years old and the child was aged 15.

In addition to her suspended prison sentence, the former officer was also made the subject of a five year sexual harm prevention order and will be subject to notification requirements for 10 years.

The offences she pleaded guilty to were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service following an investigation by Gloucestershire Police's Professional Standards Department under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Deputy Chief Constable Katy Barrow-Grint said: "Former PC Woods-Broady's conduct is truly shocking.

"She exploited a child, who was vulnerable due to her age, and engaged in sexual activity with her over several months.

"One doesn't have to be a police officer to know that her actions weren’t just morally wrong, but criminal.

"There is no place in the police service for those who take advantage of others or who commit such serious offences and the panel had little hesitation in concluding former PC Woods-Broady's actions amounted to gross misconduct and had she not previously resigned, she would’ve been dismissed without notice.

"We're committed to protecting children, and we would urge anyone who has been sexually abused or exploited to seek support and report this to police so that we can bring perpetrators to justice."