A misconduct hearing has revealed that PC Field, a former police officer, attempted to wipe his mobile phone to avoid an ongoing investigation into alleged criminal offences. The panel found that he deliberately tried to reset his phone’s factory settings at Birmingham’s Newtown Police Station during his arrest, deceiving a fellow officer into believing he was texting a relative.
This deliberate act prevented the retrieval of potential evidence vital to the investigation. Months later, when officers returned to arrest him, Field falsely claimed he had lost his phone, while it was actually hidden under his bed. Despite being released on bail, he repeatedly violated conditions prohibiting contact with his ex-partner.
The panel determined that Field’s actions constituted gross misconduct due to dishonesty and a lack of integrity — qualities fundamental to police work. If still serving, he would have faced dismissal.
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Panel chair Debra Tedds stated, “The former officer’s conduct was deliberate, targeted and somewhat planned. Resetting his phone to obstruct the investigation is dishonest and breaches the professional standards expected of an officer.”
Body-worn camera footage captured Field’s arrest in December 2024, showing him using his personal phone minutes after it was reset at 5:58 pm. Later analysis confirmed the factory reset prevented the recovery of evidence. Field denied these allegations during his statements.
In March 2025, during a second arrest at his home, Field claimed he no longer had a phone. However, officers found his concealed mobile under bedding after returning later that day. Examination of the phone revealed multiple messages and a photograph sent to his former partner, despite explicit bail conditions forbidding contact.
The panel emphasized the serious public concern arising from Field’s disregard for bail conditions designed to protect a vulnerable individual, undermining the community’s trust in the police.
Ultimately, PC Field breached professional standards concerning honesty, integrity, and conduct unbecoming of an officer. His attempt to evade justice and protect himself at the expense of the investigation led to gross misconduct findings in June 2025.