Misconduct outcomes
View details of recent misconduct outcomes:
Former PC Michael Elmer
07 April 2026
A former police officer convicted of making and distributing indecent images of children has been barred from policing following a misconduct hearing.
Michael Elmer, 36, who was a police constable based in Bristol, was arrested in May 2025 by officers with our Internet Child Abuse Team, following information received. He was later charged.
At a hearing held in Exeter Crown Court in February, he pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Three counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child
- One count of distributing an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child
- One count of sharing a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state for the purpose of sexual gratification
He will be sentenced for these offences on Monday 20 April.
At a misconduct hearing held on Tuesday 7 April, he was found to have committed gross misconduct and would have been dismissed if he hadn’t already resigned. He was also barred from working in policing and other law enforcement agencies again.
A statement was issued on our website following the hearing
Full hearing outcome report for former PC Michael Elmer (PDF)
Former officer PC Steven Faulkner
01 April 2026
A former Avon and Somerset Police officer would have been dismissed without notice if he hadn’t already resigned after gross misconduct was found.
Former PC Steven Faulkner has been barred from policing after a misconduct hearing was held at Police Headquarters in Portishead on Wednesday 1 April.
The misconduct panel heard how between July 2022 and August 2023, PC Faulkner abused his position and displayed prejudicial and improper behaviour towards a woman, who was provided anonymity through the misconduct process.
Following the hearing we issued a statement on the news section of our website
Former PC Keir Chesterton
30 March 2026
A misconduct hearing was held for former officer PC Keir Chesterton at Police Headquarters on Monday 30 March.
The hearing panel was led by former Assistant Chief Constable Craig Holden.
The outcome was a finding of misconduct. No sanction was applied due to the fact the officer had resigned prior to the hearing taking place.
Full hearing outcome report for former PC Keir Chesterton (PDF)
Sergeant X
25 February 2026
A police officer has been dismissed without notice after giving a false impression she was home working when she was not.
The officer, referred to as Sergeant X, has been barred from police and other law enforcement agencies following an accelerated misconduct hearing held at Police HQ in Portishead.
At the hearing, former Assistant Chief Constable Craig Holden, chair of the misconduct panel, found her behaviour amounted to gross misconduct. He decided at the end of proceedings that the officer’s anonymity should be upheld after considering representations.
Following the hearing, we issued a statement on our website