PS Steven Farmer and former PC Liam Allardyce outcome summary

Misconduct hearing outcome 

Officer concerned: PS Steven Farmer & former PC Liam Allardyce 

Dates of hearing: 18 to 21 May and 2 July 2026 

Summary

Police Sergeant Steven Farmer, based at MO8 – Road & Transport, and former Police Constable Liam Allardyce, previously based at MO7 - Taskforce, answered allegations that their conduct amounted to breaches of the Standards of Professional Behaviour, in respect of:

• Duties & Responsibilities
• Use of Force
• Authority, Respect & Courtesy
• Discreditable Conduct

It was alleged that on 5 October 2022 both officers were on duty in uniform when they attended the scene of an incident. 

On arrival at the scene of the incident, it is alleged that the officers were aware that there had been a police pursuit of a suspected stolen vehicle; the suspect vehicle had left the road, crashed and come to rest in a wooded area; a member of the public, who was suspected to have been one of the occupants of the stolen vehicle, had been found in some nearby bushes.

It was alleged that the officers failed to treat the complainant in a manner appropriate for a person who had a suspected spinal injury. It was alleged that the officers failed to follow the training they received in treating people with suspected spinal injuries. It was alleged they applied force to and/or moved the complainant when it was unnecessary to do so, and created an unnecessary and avoidable risk of significantly increasing the severity of any spinal injury he may have suffered (although there is no evidence that their actions did increase the severity of the injury). It was further alleged that the officers’ language and conduct towards the complainant was disrespectful and discourteous.

PS Farmer and FPC Allardyce each faced a number of allegations, those that were accepted by the officers were therefore found proven by the panel at a level of Misconduct, and that the Standards of Professional Behaviour had been breached in respect of:

PS Farmer: 'Authority, Respect & Courtesy' and 'Discreditable Conduct'.
FPC Allardyce: 'Duties & Responsibilities', 'Use of Force', 'Authority, Respect & Courtesy' and 'Discreditable Conduct'.

Decision

At the conclusion of the misconduct proceedings, the panel, chaired by former Commander Katie Lilburn, issued PS Farmer with a  Final Written Warning in place for 2 years. As FPC Allarydce is a former officer, he received no sanction.