A Slough-based police officer has been dismissed for a series of lies to colleagues

PC Simon Edwards, who was based in Slough, was dismissed from the Thames Valley Police force on Tuesday November 29, for gross misconduct and breaching The Police Regulations 2012.

At a two-day misconduct hearing on November 28 and 29 at Thames Valley Police Headquarters in Kidlington, it was heard that over a four-year period between 2012 and 2016 PC Edwards had spoken to a colleague about serving in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland which was found to be completely untrue.

He also claimed to have been a member of the Parachute Regiment and the Red Devils parachute display team, which also transpired to be false.

Astonishingly, Edwards attended a presentation ceremony in 2014 wearing six medals on his police tunic for service in Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, five of which he had no right to wear as he had not even served in those locations.

The only medal he had a right to wear was the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for completing five years of service, which was presented to tens of thousands of people in the Commonwealth in 2012.

It was also heard that PC Edwards had lied on behalf of a colleague for a speeding offence.

On April 19 this year he was the passenger in a police vehicle which exceeded the 30 mph speed limit and triggered a speed camera.

He gave a false account of events so his colleague avoided penalty points on his driving license, claiming that the police vehicle had sped up to catch up with a van in front.

Det Chief Supt Tim De Meyer, head of Professional Standards, said: “If people are to have trust and confidence in the police then our officers must demonstrate exemplary standards of honesty and integrity.

"PC Edwards’s conduct fell far short of these standards and was an affront to members of the armed forces and to police colleagues.

"His misconduct was reported by his fellow officers which shows that such behaviour is not tolerated in Thames Valley Police."