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A former Essex Police constable is scheduled to appear before a formal gross misconduct hearing following severe allegations of sustained domestic abuse, unlawful intelligence disclosure, and witness tampering. Former Police Constable Thomas Fance faces proceedings conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams between Tuesday 15 September and Friday 18 September, overseen by Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin. The force’s professional standards authority has determined that the alleged pattern of behaviour represents multiple breaches of the Standards of Professional Behaviour and, if substantiated, amounts to gross misconduct warranting prospective dismissal had he remained serving.
The formal disciplinary case against the former officer centres on allegations that he subjected an individual, identified in proceedings as Witness A, to protracted controlling, coercive, and abusive behaviour. Documents submitted by the Appropriate Authority state that former PC Fance engaged in repeated acts of physical violence, coupled with systematically degrading language designed to demean and control the victim over an extended duration.
Beyond physical and psychological abuse, the tribunal will scrutinise serious claims regarding the integrity of police systems and official compliance. Former PC Fance stands accused of misusing his position to access confidential force databases unlawfully and disclosing privileged police information to third parties. Additionally, authorities allege that he breached statutory police bail conditions and actively attempted to interfere with the administration of justice by seeking to manipulate the formal testimony provided by Witness A to investigating officers.
The formal notice indicates that former PC Fance’s conduct breached three central pillars of police conduct regulations: honesty and integrity, orders and instructions, and discreditable conduct. While the officer has already left the ranks of Essex Police, statutory disciplinary powers permit hearings to proceed against former officers to determine whether their conduct fell so far below professional standards that dismissal would have been the mandatory sanction.
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that disciplinary findings of gross misconduct against former officers result in mandatory notification to the College of Policing. In such instances, the individual's name is placed upon the Police Barred List, a statutory public register established under the Police Act 1996 that permanently prohibits an individual from serving within police forces across England and Wales or securing employment within law enforcement oversight bodies.
In accordance with Home Office regulations governing police disciplinary accountability, the four-day remote hearing will permit public observation subject to strict registration protocols. Public attendees must register their intention to view proceedings via Microsoft Teams by midday on Friday 11 September, with final approvals administered under the authority of the panel chair, Assistant Chief Constable Pavelin, by 5:00 pm on Monday 14 September.
The disciplinary panel retains statutory authority to order partial or complete exclusions of observers should sensitive evidential disclosures risk prejudicing the welfare or anonymity of Witness A. Proceedings will commence promptly on 15 September to establish whether the force's professional standards have been irreparably undermined.
