North Wales Police has dismissed a 29-year-old officer, PC Pamela Pritchard, after a misconduct panel found her guilty of multiple acts of inappropriate sexual contact toward colleagues during a drunken night out in March 2024. The panel ruled that her behaviour amounted to gross misconduct and that her continued service posed a serious risk to the integrity and public reputation of the force.
The decision was announced following a detailed hearing in which several officers recounted how the probationary constable groped both male and female colleagues, attempted to kiss a supervising officer, and repeatedly engaged in sexually explicit and abusive behaviour.
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Allsop, who chaired the disciplinary panel, said the evidence against Pritchard was overwhelming and that the force had no choice but to impose the “ultimate sanction.” He added that keeping her in the force would have sent the wrong message to colleagues, victims of sexual misconduct, and the wider public at a time when policing standards are under intense scrutiny.
“The panel find the conduct is of a level that could justify dismissal and is therefore at the level of gross misconduct,” Allsop said. “While officers are human and may make mistakes, the severity, persistence, and nature of this behaviour demands decisive action. Allowing PC Pritchard to remain a serving officer would pose a significant risk of reputational harm to North Wales Police.”
The misconduct hearing was told that the incidents occurred on a night out at Caernarfon Rugby Club on 30 March 2024. Officers from the force had gathered socially, but the evening spiralled into misconduct when Pritchard became heavily intoxicated.
A male officer identified as PC B gave a detailed account of how he was sexually assaulted at the bar. He told the panel that Pritchard approached him unexpectedly and grabbed his genitals over his clothing. He said he was shocked and had not given consent at any point.
Later in the evening, while in the smoking area, Pritchard again groped him, according to his testimony. He described another moment when she sat on his knee, put her arm around his neck, and kissed him without permission.
“It was completely out of the blue,” he said. “She behaved as if she had carte blanche to do whatever she wanted.”
A female colleague, PC A, also testified that she was groped by Pritchard. She recounted how the officer approached her from behind, reached under her armpits, and grabbed her breasts, squeezing them forcefully. The behaviour left her shocked and embarrassed.
One of the most senior officers affected was Inspector Gareth Parry, who reported that Pritchard attempted to kiss him, forcing him to pull away. He said the incident left him deeply uncomfortable, particularly as he was her supervising officer.
Another colleague told the hearing that Pritchard had called him a derogatory slur—“py”—after telling him, “I want to f you**,” a statement that the misconduct panel cited as evidence of a serious breach of standards relating to authority, respect, and courtesy.
Although Pritchard was questioned under caution following the incidents, she was not criminally charged.
Taking the stand at the hearing, Pritchard said she was “deeply mortified” when informed of her behaviour. She insisted she had no recollection of the events because she had been extremely intoxicated. She apologised repeatedly, including a direct apology to Inspector Parry.
“I am really sorry. I am so sorry,” she said, visibly emotional. “I don’t recognise myself on that CCTV. I am not that person.”
She argued that any physical contact captured on CCTV or described by colleagues must have been accidental due to her level of intoxication. She further claimed that at least one moment—where she appeared to kiss PC B—was consensual.
The former officer also said she had struggled mentally since the accusation surfaced. She told the panel she became suicidal after being labelled a “sexual predator” by colleagues and experienced deep shame and despair during her suspension, which began just nine months into her probationary period.
“I have let down the police force, myself, my friends and family, and most of all my little girl,” she said tearfully.
Pritchard’s representative, Fiona Clancy, argued that dismissal was too harsh and that her client’s behaviour—while unacceptable—was influenced by extreme intoxication rather than malicious intent. Clancy urged the panel to consider a lesser sanction, such as a final written warning.
However, Assistant Chief Constable Allsop rejected the plea, noting that the force had a duty to maintain public confidence in policing, particularly in cases involving sexual misconduct.
“Officers can and do make mistakes,” Allsop said. “But this behaviour—directly targeting colleagues with unwanted sexual contact, using sexually explicit language, attempting to kiss a supervisor, and doing so repeatedly—demands the most serious sanction available.”
He concluded that Pritchard’s actions were incompatible with the standards expected of police officers.
After reviewing the evidence, including CCTV footage and testimonies from multiple officers, the misconduct panel found the allegations proven on the balance of probabilities. The panel determined that Pritchard had breached core policing standards relating to professional behaviour, integrity, respect, equality, courtesy, and selflessness.
Her conduct was officially categorised as gross misconduct, leading to her immediate dismissal without notice. Her name will be added to the College of Policing Barred List, preventing her from being employed in policing roles across the United Kingdom in the future.
The case comes at a time when police forces across the UK are under increasing pressure to root out inappropriate behaviour within their ranks. In recent years, several high-profile incidents of police misconduct—particularly involving sexual offences—have eroded public trust.
North Wales Police said the dismissal reinforces its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct.
A spokesperson for the force said: “This case sends a clear message that misconduct of this nature will not be tolerated. The public rightly expects that officers will act with integrity, respect, and professionalism at all times.”
For Pritchard, the ruling marks the end of her short tenure in policing. For North Wales Police, it is yet another reminder of the need for vigilance, accountability, and strong leadership to ensure safe and respectful workplace environments for all officers.
