Police officer accused of shoplifting from Piccadilly station Sainsbury's

A police officer has been accused of shoplifting from a convenience store at Manchester Piccadilly station.

PC Sam Rigby, an officer serving with the Lancashire Constabulary, will face a misconduct hearing next week after an allegation emerged that he stole from the Sainsbury's shop at Manchester Piccadilly station. He could be immediately dismissed after the hearing, which will be held in front of a panel chaired by Chief Constable Chris Rowley at Ormskirk Police Station.

According to LancsLive, PC Rigby, who has worked as Skelmersdale Rural Community Beat Manager, is said to have slipped items from the store into his coat pocket, before leaving the store without paying. The force says this allegation would show a breach of policing standards in honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct.

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PC Rigby will face the allegations and be given a chance to either deny or explain the actions at the hearing next week, but if the panel believe he did shoplift from the store, they can hand out sanctions ranging from management advice and a warning to dismissal without notice.

The hearing details state: “It is alleged by the Appropriate Authority that being a police officer with Lancashire Constabulary, PC 5345 Rigby breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour set out in Schedule 2 to the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020. PC Rigby is alleged to have selected items from a Sainsbury store at Piccadilly Station in Manchester, placed the items in his coat pocket and then left the store having made no attempt to pay for any of the items.

“The matters aforesaid amount to gross misconduct and to a breach of the Standards