PC James Holt dismissed from Greater Manchester police after sex assault conviction

The former constable did not attend the misconduct hearing.
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A former police constable who has been convicted of a sex offence has been kicked out of the force and barred from policing.

PC James Holt, 32, who served with Greater Manchester police in the City of Manchester district, had been suspended from duty after a complaint was made about him on a night out when he was off duty. He appeared before Merseyside magistrates last September and was found guilty of sexual assault. In October 2022, Holt was sentenced to a community order, an alcohol abstinence programme and must pay a victim surcharge of £95 and costs of £700 to the CPS.

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This week GMP held a misconduct hearing, which Holt did not attend, and he was dismissed without notice and added to the College of Policing’s Barred List. He had resigned prior to the meeting.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson of GMP said: “His actions warrant dismissal after gross misconduct and his conviction discredits the police service and ultimately public confidence. He breached the standards of professional behaviour after his deliberate actions were not consented. The seriousness of this has resulted in a criminal offence of sexual assault and although under the influence of alcohol his actions were unlawful and deliberate, there is no justification for his actions.

“It cannot be ignored the public concern resulting from this and the professional conduct of a police officer sexually assaulting another is acute and pronounced.

“It is a catastrophic lapse of judgement on his behalf and the wider public would hold the notion that officers cannot commit criminal offences themselves. The misconduct has come at a terrible cost to him after being fairly convicted of a sexual offence after what is believed to have been an early fledging career.

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“It remains clear however that none of these early positive personal attributes outweigh the potential for the loss of confidence that would ensue if Mr Holt were to be permitted to continue to perform in the office of constable. Had Mr Holt not resigned therefore, I would have dismissed him from the service.”

Detective Superintendent Phil Duffy of the Professional Standards Branch said: “Those who enforce the law, as with any other person, cannot break the law. If they do, not only will they feel the consequences of the criminal court but can expect to be held to account by the force.

“In Holt’s case his behaviour was entirely incompatible with his role as a then police officer and this is why he now finds himself barred from policing for life. This is yet another case that demonstrates the resolve of the Professional Standards Branch to purge such individuals from its ranks.

“Whilst we are transparently demonstrating a high rate of dismissals, we are hopeful this provides our communities with the confidence that GMP have set a high bar for professionalism and those that cannot reach it will not be part of our continuing journey of improvement.”