A former police constable who was fired for sending a member of the public a fake text message about another officer is trying to get the decision overturned.
Simon Bidgood was dismissed from Avon and Somerset Police after he admitted adding a man he had never met - the partner of one of his colleagues - as a “friend” on Facebook and then chatting with him on the social media site’s Messenger service while he was on duty.
Then serving as a response officer in Chard, he used a website to fabricate a text exchange that would appear as if it had taken place between him and the other officer when it had not.
He then sent the man a screenshot of the message, falsely claiming it was genuine.
The misconduct panel found Mr Bidgood had breached standards of professional behaviour including duties and responsibilities, honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct.
For news tailored to your local area , powered by In Your Area :
An outcome notice from the hearing in November 2019 said: “The panel decided the only sanction that was appropriate to maintain public confidence in and the reputation of the police services, to uphold high standards in policing and to deter misconduct was dismissal without notice.”
Mr Bidgood is now appealing that decision. A tribunal hearing will be held over Skype on April 16.
