Shola Balogun, a Nigerian-British officer from Bromley Police Station, was fired by the UK’s Metropolitan Police Service after reportedly biting a coworker at a birthday celebration in Bexleyheath, Kent.

This was disclosed at a hearing that took place from October 21 to 23, 2024, and was presided over by senior officer Christopher McKay. IPM Amanda Harvey and Assessor-Detective Superintendent Kirsty Mead were on the panel.

The event happened on April 22, 2022, at Goals Sports Bar during a 40th birthday celebration that was attended by about 70 individuals.

The hearing record states that the victim and Balogun, who are both employed at Bromley Police Station, had previously had a cordial working relationship and enjoyed light-hearted horseplay. However, after a heated argument at the party, Balogun allegedly seized the victim’s glasses and then bit him in the face, resulting in an altercation.

Medical records verified that the victim had been bitten, notwithstanding Balogun’s denial of biting and his assertion that taking off the spectacles was an accident.

The panel decided that Balogun’s acts were against police standards, namely the College of Policing Code of Ethics’ Discreditable Conduct section, which emphasises the value of preserving public trust. The tribunal determined that Balogun’s previous disciplinary history and the seriousness of the event warranted his abrupt dismissal, even though he had received excellent character recommendations from his inspector and other coworkers.

“Dismissal Without Notice is the only appropriate and proportionate outcome in this case,” the panel stated.

In Salter v. Chief Constable of Dorset [2012] EWCA Civ 1047, Lord Justice Maurice Kay made the following statement, which the Panel keeps in mind: “As to personal mitigation, just as an unexpectedly errant solicitor can usually refer to an unblemished past and the esteem of his colleagues, so will a police officer often be able to do so.”However, the possibility for such mitigation is always constrained due to the significance of public confidence.PC Balogun’s record is not spotless in this instance, and the wrongdoing that has been shown against him in the past is severe.

“In the current instance, he intentionally attacked a coworker without cause or explanation.”He made PC seem bad. In this instance, a final written warning is inappropriate. In this instance, dismissal without notice is the only reasonable and proper course of action.