Former PC Rebecca Brennan outcome report

Accelerated Misconduct Hearing (AMH) 30th October 2026 Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan

I have read all the papers presented to me and heard the case put forward by the Appropriate Authority.

In particular, I have considered the certificate signed by Acting Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hooper as Appropriate Authority on the 19th August 2026, confirming that the special conditions for an accelerated misconduct hearing were met. I fully concur with that decision.

I have considered the written opening submissions prepared on behalf of the Appropriate Authority and presented by DI Tina Hart during the hearing.

I have also read the documentation pack provided in support of the hearing.

I have also read and reminded myself of Home Office Guidance 2020, the College of Policing (COP) Code of Ethics relevant at the time, the Standards of Professional Behaviour as set out in Schedule 2 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 and the COP guidance on outcomes in police misconduct proceedings as updated in August 2022.

In this and all my determinations on decisions, I am considering the information and evidence I am provided with and assessing this against the test of ‘balance of probability’.

Reporting Restrictions / Anonymity

No application for reporting restrictions was made and I do not impose any reporting restrictions in relation to this matter.

The hearing was held in public in accordance with the principle of transparency that applies to accelerated misconduct hearings.

Decision to hear the case in Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan’s absence

Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan resigned from Essex Police, with her last working day recorded as the 5th June 2026. She did not attend the hearing and was not represented by a legal representative or the Police Federation. The Regulation 51 notice was served through her Police Federation representative by email on the 8th October 2026. On the 13th October 2026, her representative confirmed that she did not wish to provide a formal response and would not attend or participate in the hearing or any future process.

The AA submit that the hearing should proceed in the officer’s absence in line with Regulation 57 3b, and in the public interest. There is no issue in my view of a lack of fairness by proceeding today, and it is in the public interest to do so.

I am satisfied that Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan was notified of the proceedings and made a clear decision not to attend or participate. As a result, I have decided to continue in former Police Constable Brennan’s absence.

Decision as to whether the conduct took place

The Appropriate Authority has clearly set out, both in its opening note and in the allegation, the conduct of Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan and the alleged breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour.

The AA sets out the behaviour of former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan’s as the following: 

The Regulation 51 notice identifies Discreditable Conduct as the Standard of Professional Behaviour alleged to have been breached.

• On the 4th August 2026, Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan pleaded guilty at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court to assault by beating, contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
• The offence related to her assault of Miss Miller, an ambulance professional, on the 26th February 2026 while Former Police Constable Brennan was a serving police officer.
• The evidence records that she grabbed Miss Miller’s hair, scratched her neck, grabbed her arm and caused a door to strike her back as Miss Miller attempted to leave.
• Miss Miller and her colleague were required to retreat and left medical equipment behind.
• During the incident, Former Police Constable Brennan invoked her position as a police officer and suggested that she would be believed over the ambulance personnel due to her profession.
• The court imposed a £500 fine and ordered £500 compensation. The offence was treated as aggravated because the victim was an emergency worker.

I have considered the allegations as set out in the Regulation 51 notice against the standard of a balance of probability. I have carefully assessed all of the evidence provided by the Appropriate Authority. I have remained clear throughout that it is for the Appropriate Authority to prove its case and that this remains the position, despite Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan not attending the hearing.

The conviction and guilty plea establish that Former Police Constable Brennan assaulted Miss Miller. The supporting evidence provides the factual context of that offence, including the physical violence used, the subsequent injuries sustained by the victim, the need for the ambulance personnel to retreat, and the invocation of Former Police Constable Brennan’s police status. I am satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the conduct alleged took place.

Standards of Professional Behaviour Engaged

The AA proposed that the following standards are engaged as set out in the conduct above:

• Discreditable Conduct.

I agree with the Appropriate Authority that the Standard of Professional Behaviour concerning Discreditable Conduct is engaged.

Based on the evidence provided, I find that Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan breached the Standard of Professional Behaviour relating to Discreditable Conduct. Her behaviour fell far below the standards expected of a police officer, both by the public and by Essex Police. Her actions discredited the police service and undermined the trust and confidence the public rightly expect to have in Essex Police.

Gross Misconduct

In considering whether the behaviour is misconduct or gross misconduct, I have consulted and considered Home Office guidance for Conduct Efficiency and Effectiveness 2020 as well as the College of Policing (COP) Guidance on Outcomes in Police Conduct Proceedings 2023.  

Regulation 2 of the Police Conduct Regulations defines gross misconduct as a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour that is so serious as to justify dismissal.  

After carefully considering all of the information presented to me, I find that Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan’s conduct represented a serious breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour, specifically concerning Discreditable Conduct.

I have made no decision as to outcome at this stage.

Considering the conduct and the definition of gross misconduct in the Home Office Guidance, I find that this conduct amounts to gross misconduct.

Decision as to Outcome

Seriousness

I assess the conduct of Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan as highly serious and have found that her actions amount to gross misconduct. This matter involved a violent assault on an ambulance professional who had attended in response to a welfare concern for Former Police Constable Brennan. The seriousness is further increased by the fact that she invoked her position as a police officer and suggested that, because of her profession, she would be believed over the ambulance personnel. Such behaviour falls far below the standards expected of a police officer and has the clear potential to undermine public trust and confidence in policing.

Culpability 

Former Police Constable Brennan was personally and solely responsible for her actions. Her conviction establishes that she assaulted Miss Miller. The conduct involved deliberate physical violence, and her culpability is increased by her reliance on her status as a police officer during the incident.

Harm

There was clear physical harm to Miss Miller as a result of Former Police Constable Brennan’s actions, including an injury to her neck. Of particular concern is that Miss Miller and her colleague, who had attended to provide assistance, were forced to retreat from the property and leave medical equipment behind. There is also significant reputational harm. Former Police Constable Brennan invoked her position as a police officer during the incident and suggested that she would be believed over the ambulance personnel. I consider that such behaviour has the potential to seriously undermine public confidence in the impartiality of police officers.

Aggravating factors

I consider there to be a number of significant aggravating factors. Miss Miller was an emergency worker who had attended the property to provide assistance following a welfare concern. Despite this, Former Police Constable Brennan used physical violence against her, resulting in physical injury. Former Police Constable Brennan invoked her position as a police officer and suggested that she would be believed over the ambulance personnel. The criminal court also recognised the seriousness of the circumstances, treating the offence as aggravated because Miss Miller was an emergency worker. Taken together, these factors significantly increase the seriousness of the conduct.

Mitigating factors

I have carefully considered the mitigation, including Former Police Constable Brennan’s guilty plea and the absence of previous convictions. However, I must balance this against the seriousness of the conduct, specifically the physical violence used against an ambulance professional and the impact this incident could have on public trust and confidence.    

Personal Mitigation

There has been no personal mitigation put forward on behalf of Former Police Constable Rebecca Brennan. I have considered her service record, but there is nothing within it that carries any significant weight in mitigation.

Purpose of Police Conduct Procedures

The college of policing guidance clearly sets out the purpose of police misconduct proceedings. These are threefold.

• Protect the public.
• Maintain public confidence in and representation of the police service.
• Uphold the highest standards in policing.

It is essential that any outcome protects the communities we serve, maintains public trust and confidence in policing, and upholds the standards we expect of everyone within Essex Police. Criminal violence against an emergency worker, made more serious by the use of police status, is wholly unacceptable. The public rightly expect police officers to uphold the Standards of Professional Behaviour and, where they fall short of those standards, to be held to account.

Outcome

In considering the purpose of police conduct procedures and all of the information presented to me, both verbally and in writing, I have considered the outcomes available.

As the notice of the accelerated misconduct hearing was served after May 2025, the presumption of dismissal applies unless there are exceptional circumstances that justify a different outcome. However, I must still ensure that the outcome I determine is appropriate and proportionate to the seriousness of the conduct.

Taking no action would not reflect the seriousness of this matter, nor would it meet the purpose of the accelerated misconduct hearing process. I have identified no exceptional circumstances from the information available to me, and none have been put forward by Former Police Constable Brennan or on her behalf.

I have therefore considered what outcome is necessary to protect the communities of Essex, maintain public trust and confidence, and uphold the standards expected of those employed by Essex Police. The conduct demonstrated by former Police Constable Brennan’s is fundamentally incompatible with these standards.

An outcome of dismissal without notice, had she remained a serving officer, sends a clear message that conduct of this nature will not be tolerated and that those who fall below the Standards of Professional Behaviour will be held to account. It also protects the public by preventing Former Police Constable Brennan from returning to policing and reinforces the standards expected of all police officers.

Having considered all of the circumstances and the facts presented to me, I must find that the only appropriate and proportionate outcome is that Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan would have been dismissed without notice had she remained a serving police officer.

College Barred List & publicity

No reporting restrictions were imposed at the hearing.

Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan’s name and the findings of the hearing should be published both internally and externally in the interests of public trust and confidence, and to reinforce the standards expected by the public and Essex Police.

Former Police Constable 83911 Rebecca Brennan will be added to the College of Policing barred list.

Rachel Nolan
Chief Constable of Essex Police
30th October 2026