Former officer is barred after assaulting colleagues

A former police officer who assaulted colleagues while off duty committed gross misconduct, a disciplinary hearing has concluded.

Jamie Hornett, a former constable with Hertfordshire Police, was found to have breached professional standards after becoming aggressive at a social event on 2 December 2023.

Police were called and Hornett verbally abused and threatened violence against fellow officers, spat at a PC and headbutted an inspector before being detained under the Mental Health Act, the hearing was told.

Hornett would have been dismissed from the force had he not resigned, the panel concluded.

Hornett was charged with two counts of assault on emergency workers but the case was discontinued, the force said.

It added that his actions were a "significant deviation" from instructions and were aggravated by intoxicated violence after multiple warnings.

The panel acknowledged that Hornett had "personal health challenges" and that he was absent from work through illness during the investigation.

He had shown "a level of insight and remorse" and had apologised to those affected, the panel said.

He also accepted his actions amounted to gross misconduct.

The Deputy Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Police, Andy Mariner, said: "Even when off duty, officers must hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct, as they continue to represent the profession and the trust placed in us."

Hornett has been added to the Police Barred List, which means he cannot return to the force in the future.

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