A former police constable has been sacked after engaging in a dangerous high-speed chase on the motorway, reaching speeds of 134mph, all without the proper qualifications to do so. Andrew Wood, once a Roads Policing Officer, was found guilty of gross misconduct following the incident, which took place on 5 August 2023.
Wood had responded to a dispatch message about a suspected stolen vehicle being followed by West Mercia Police along the M5 motorway. However, despite lacking the advanced driving qualifications required to conduct such pursuits, Wood chose to follow the West Mercia Police cars, racing at nearly double the speed limit.
As a result of his reckless actions, Wood was immediately suspended. He later resigned from his position in October 2023, but the case didn’t end there.
A Gross Misconduct Hearing
An accelerated misconduct hearing was held on 18 March, chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson, at Police Headquarters. The panel carefully reviewed the details of Wood’s pursuit to determine if his actions breached professional standards, ultimately concluding that his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct. Had Wood not already resigned, he would have been dismissed without notice. His name has also been added to the police barred list.
Strong Words from Senior Officers
Deputy Chief Constable Katy Barrow-Grint did not mince words when condemning Wood’s actions, stating, “Former PC Wood’s actions were irresponsible and endangered the lives of other motorists. He refused to accept that he took part in a police pursuit, claiming he was acting as a safety vehicle, and this denial highlights the contempt in which he held the policies that are in place to protect the public.”
Barrow-Grint went on to reassure the public, saying, “I hope people are reassured that when a police officer is dishonest and their actions present such a significant risk to public safety, we’ll take robust action.”
Even though Wood had already resigned, Barrow-Grint made it clear that his misconduct would have long-lasting consequences: “Former PC Wood may have resigned, but his name has now been added to the police barred list, meaning he won’t be able to work in policing for at least the next five years, if ever again.”
