Police officer bought drink for underage girl

A former police officer has been barred from the profession after buying alcohol for an underage girl at a pub.

Now retired Sgt Paul Clarke was off-duty from his role at Nottinghamshire Police and was at a pub with a group he knew when he bought the drinks for the 16-year-old on 11 March 2023.

A misconduct hearing held at the force's headquarters on Friday heard Mr Clarke retired on medical grounds after the allegations were made.

The panel found he failed to perform his duties and responsibilities and concluded he would have been dismissed if he still served in the force.

Mr Clarke was also aware that another woman he was drinking with at the time was in possession of cannabis but took no action, the panel heard.

He denied the accusation but the panel found he had known after viewing CCTV footage from inside the pub.

Mr Clarke breached the force's standards of professional behaviour, including honesty and integrity, and had shown "discreditable conduct", the force said.

Chief Constable Kate Meynell said the officer's behaviour was "unacceptable".

She added: "Officers must ensure they maintain the exceptionally high standards expected of them whether they are on or off duty.

"This officer purchased alcoholic drinks for a minor and allowed someone to commit a criminal offence such as being in possession of cannabis and failed to act."

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