Former Rochdale police officer convicted of criminal damage and cocaine use in misconduct case

Tuesday, 10 June 2025 19:48

By David Murphy

A former Rochdale based police officer has been placed on the national barred list after gross misconduct findings and a criminal conviction.

A former Greater Manchester Police constable has been found guilty of gross misconduct following a criminal conviction and evidence of drug use, according to the force's chief constable.

Lucy Hartley, who previously served as a constable in Rochdale and other boroughs, was the subject of an accelerated misconduct hearing, yesterday, Monday 9 June 2025. The hearing, chaired by Chief Constable Stephen Watson QPM, concluded that her conduct amounted to gross misconduct and warranted dismissal had she not already resigned from her post.

The case against Ms Hartley arose from an incident on New Year’s Eve 2023. During a domestic altercation, she caused damage within a home. She was later convicted of criminal damage under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 at Bradford Magistrates' Court in December 2024. She received a six month conditional discharge, was ordered to pay £150 in costs and a £26 victim surcharge.

In addition to the conviction, Ms Hartley tested positive for cocaine while in custody at Trafalgar House Police Station in West Yorkshire. She acknowledged the result at the time, admitting the presence of the drug in her system.

In his formal decision, Chief Constable Watson said: “Ms Hartley’s culpability must be regarded as very high. She stands convicted of a substantive criminal offence and there is incontrovertible evidence of the illicit use of cocaine.” He also highlighted the damage to public trust caused by the incident, noting that Hartley’s actions were “deliberate, knowing and/or reckless” and “in conflict with all that is required of a well conducted constable”.

CC Watson stated that Hartley’s behaviour implied a significant deviation from police standards and necessitated contact with active criminals to obtain the illegal substance. “A police officer is expected to target active criminals, not to consort with them,” he added.

The hearing also addressed Hartley’s criticisms of her treatment by police, which she raised in her response under Regulation 54. However, Chief Constable Watson said there was no evidence to support her claim of unfair treatment by officers in West Yorkshire, adding that their conduct had been entirely professional.

In the absence of compelling mitigation, the chief constable concluded that had Ms Hartley not resigned from the service on 8 June 2025, she would have been dismissed without notice. Her name has now been added to the College of Policing’s Barred List, preventing her from future employment in policing roles across the UK.

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