Accelerated misconduct hearing for PC Alex Potts

Notice of hearing to be held in public

Name of the officer concerned: PC Alex Potts

Dates: 24th September 2026

Time: 9am

Duration of misconduct hearing: 1 day

Location: Police Headquarters, Block 7, Conference Room 7

Alleged conduct

The allegations faced by PC Potts arise out of his actions on 11th August 2025 when he discovered what appeared to be a firearm during a search of a residential property. It is the AA’s case that he breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour (Duties and Responsibilities and Discreditable Conduct) due to the following actions:

Telling a colleague that he had discovered a ‘fake firearm’ (“the Firearm”) despite not holding the requisite qualifications to make that determination;

Failing to request Authorised Firearms Officer assistance;

Pulling the trigger of the Firearm twice;

Pulling the trigger on the second occasion whilst looking in the direction of your colleague, recklessly discharging a blank round

Breaching his training and Force policy on firearms and evidence handling.

CHAIR: Assistant Chief Constable E. Clarke

In accordance with Regulation 53 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 it is the Assistant Chief Constable’s intention to consider the public notification of the hearing.

The presumption is that an accelerated misconduct hearing will be held in public, however there may be some circumstances where this is not appropriate, or where certain parts of the hearing need to be held in private. You are entitled to make representations in relation to:

(1) Whether the person chairing should exclude any person from the whole or part of the hearing, or

(2) Whether any conditions should be imposed on the public attending in order to assist the proper conduct of the hearing

(3) Whether the chair should give directions prohibiting the publication of any matter relating to the proceedings

(4) In light of any representations, whether the Chair should publish details of the hearing and if so, the content of the notice to be publicised on the Force website.

Any representations should be made in writing for the attention of the Chair by 23rd September @1200. This should be sent to the Complaints and Misconduct Manager at the following email address; [email protected]

If no representations are received by this date, the Chair will assume that you have no objections to put forward.

If you have any further queries please contact the misconduct support team on the above extension number or email