Kent Police’s PC Andrew Lewis dismissed without notice after beating his ‘vulnerable’ partner

KENT POLICE’S PC ANDREW LEWIS DISMISSED WITHOUT NOTICE AFTER BEATING HIS ‘VULNERABLE’ PARTNER

A police officer has been sacked after he admitted beating up his “vulnerable” partner.

PC Andrew Lewis was dismissed without notice after he pleaded guilty to assault charges.

The force made the decision on Friday, August 22, after the officer, who had worked in the north part of the county, was convicted at Bromley Magistrates’ Court in June.

Lewis, who has been remanded on conditional bail until a hearing at the same court on September 16, does not have any other previous misconduct on his record.

Kent Police’s chief constable, Tim Smith, carried out the accelerated misconduct hearing and found that Lewis’s “violent” conduct amounted to “police perpetrated domestic abuse, and violence against women and girls”.

He said this behaviour caused “very obvious harm” to his partner, both physically and mentally, and will also “harm trust and confidence” in the police force.

Mr Smith added: “Given the seriousness of the breach and the criminal conviction for a violent crime, committed against a vulnerable victim, I have discounted a final written warning.

“Such is the breach of public trust and seriousness in this case, I believe this outcome is insufficient to safeguard public trust and confidence in Kent Police.

“PC Lewis has acted with discreditable conduct and that this matter is so serious as to justify [his] dismissal.”