A police constable who called in sick on the day he flew to Turkey for a week-long holiday would have faced dismissal if he were still serving with the force, according to a disciplinary hearing. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found ex-PC Raja Khan guilty of gross misconduct. Khan was met by police officers upon his return flight landing at London Stansted Airport on October 11 last year. The misconduct ruling was made by a panel chaired by Leicestershire’s chief constable following an IOPC-directed investigation by Leicestershire Police.
Khan, who resigned from the force in February, was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour related to honesty, integrity, confidentiality, following orders, and conduct that brings discredit to the force. The IOPC stated that Khan claimed sickness on October 5, a rest day, two days before his next shift, before flying out to Istanbul for a holiday the same evening. He then had a third party access his police laptop at home to submit a sickness form on his behalf and send an email from his work address to his line manager confirming his absence.
In a statement, the IOPC’s director of operations condemned Khan’s actions, stating that his dishonesty and mishandling of confidential information fell well below the expected standards for a police officer. Khan has been placed on the barred list, preventing him from future employment within the service. Although Khan was arrested and interviewed following the incident, no referral was made to the Crown Prosecution Service for criminal charges.
The case of PC Raja Khan serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding integrity and professionalism within the police force. Misconduct of this nature undermines public trust and accountability. It is crucial that officers adhere to the highest ethical standards to maintain the integrity of the service and ensure public confidence in the police.