Police officer threatened hotel staff before assaulting fellow cop

An off-duty cop who threatened hotel staff before assaulting a fellow police officer has been dismissed. Daniel Cox was a British Transport Police (BTP) constable in Manchester when the incident took place.

Officers were called out to Thorpe Park Hotel, in Leeds, on May 17 after he made threats of violence to staff. As police attended, one officer intervened in a dispute.

BTP says Cox pushed the officer into another person, before grabbing and holding the officer's tactical vest. He then pushed the West Yorkshire Police officer for a second time, scratching their wrist and thumb.

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Cox pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting an emergency worker at West Yorkshire Magistrates Court on June 3. He faced a BTP accelerated misconduct hearing on July 26.

Cox had resigned from the force prior to the hearing, which he did not attend. It was alleged that Cox's behaviour at Thorpe Park Hotel amounted to a breach in the Standards of Professional Behaviour, namely ‘Authority, Respect and Courtesy’ and ‘Discreditable Conduct.’

Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi, of BTP, chaired the hearing and found Cox's actions amounted to gross misconduct. She concluded that had Cox not already resigned, he would been dismissed from the force with immediate effect.

Chf Con D'Orsi added: “It is completely wrong for those entrusted to uphold the law to assault anybody let alone another police officer. Police officers are responsible for upholding the law, not breaking it themselves.

"His actions were totally unacceptable and are unreflective of the high standards demonstrated daily by BTP officers and staff. There is no place for this