Former Dorset Police Constable Faces Misconduct Hearing After Series of Off-Duty Incidents

A misconduct hearing took place today 10 am on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, at Dorset Police Headquarters in Winfrith to review allegations against former Police Constable 0843 Matthew Campbell. The hearing will investigate claims that the former officer committed serious off-duty misconduct on several occasions, conduct that Dorset Police assert could constitute gross misconduct.

Allegations From January 2024: Abuse of Authority and Aggressive Conduct

According to Dorset Police, the first incident occurred in January 2024 while Campbell was off duty in Weymouth. It is alleged that he:

Failed to act with self-control,
Produced his warrant card in an attempt to gain access to a venue,
Abused his authority as a police constable, and
Acted aggressively towards security staff.

Producing a warrant card for personal advantage is considered a clear misuse of police powers and is one of the most serious breaches of professional standards.

Further Allegations From October 2024

A second set of alleged incidents took place in October 2024, again while Campbell was off duty. During this night out, he is accused of:

Becoming disrespectful towards security staff after being asked to leave a venue,
Acting argumentative and confrontational at a second venue after being refused entry, and
Demonstrating behaviour inconsistent with the expectations of a serving police officer.

These actions allegedly show a pattern of disrespect, lack of control, and misuse of his officer status.

Potential Breaches of Professional Standards

The misconduct panel will consider whether Campbell’s conduct breached the following Standards of Professional Behaviour:

Authority, Respect and Courtesy
Conduct
Duties and Responsibilities

Dorset Police allege that the actions collectively amount to gross misconduct, meaning behaviour so serious that dismissal would have been justified had he still been serving.

Campbell resigned from Dorset Police on 4 June 2025, with his final working day recorded as 3 August 2025.

Part of a Troubling Pattern for Dorset Police

This upcoming hearing is not an isolated case—it forms yet another entry in a growing string of misconduct cases that have hit Dorset Police in recent years. Public misconduct hearings involving Dorset officers have become increasingly frequent, raising concerns about internal culture, conduct oversight, and public trust.

Each new case reinforces pressure on the force to address systemic issues, strengthen accountability, and reassure the public that officers are held to the highest possible standards—both on duty and off.

Although Matthew Campbell is no longer a serving officer, misconduct hearings for former officers continue to play an important role. They ensure:

Accountability does not end with resignation,
Misconduct findings remain publicly transparent, and
Individuals found guilty of gross misconduct can be placed on the national policing barred list.

The outcome of the hearing will determine whether Campbell’s actions officially amount to gross misconduct and whether further sanctions—such as barring him from future policing roles.