A SPECIAL constable has been dismissed by Cheshire Police after failing a drugs test following a trip to Creamfields.

Special constable Matthew Ince, based in Widnes, has been dismissed without notice following an accelerated misconduct hearing held this week.

The outcome was confirmed in a written decision published by the force, with the allegation being that he breached the standards of professional behaviour following a visit to the Daresbury music festival.

On November 21 last year, the volunteer officer provided a sample of hair for analysis, as required for a pre-employment drugs test, which came back positive for MDMA.

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In providing a positive drugs test, it was alleged that he breached policing standards by acting ‘without integrity, compromising his position and acting in a manner that would seriously undermine the trust and confidence of the public’.

The written decision states that SC Ince accepted he failed the drug test, but his account was that ‘at no time did he knowingly take drugs’, suggesting that the drugs ‘must have entered his system unknowingly’.

His hypothesis was that this ‘can only have occurred when he attended Creamfields music festival in late August 2023, and drank water from a number of unknown sources, that he suggests may have contaminated with drugs’.

A report prepared for the hearing stated that a positive hair test is ‘not expected to arise unless the drug is used on multiple occasions within the time period’.

As such, SC Ince’s hypothesis was not found to be plausible.

The decision states: “I do consider that SC Ince has breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of honesty and integrity, and discreditable conduct.

“I have reminded myself that gross misconduct is a breach of the standards of professional behaviour so serious that dismissal would be justified.

“Applying that definition, I find the matter proven as gross misconduct, given that it is incompatible with the serving the police in any capacity.

“My decision is that SC Ince should be dismissed without notice.

“There must a robust approach to drug taking within the force, therefore I consider this to be a very serious matter.”

It states that the purpose of the police misconduct regime is to maintain public confidence in the police, maintain the reputation of the police service, uphold high standards, deter misconduct and protect the public.

“In my opinion, this type of behaviour undermines public confidence in policing, as well as the particular reputation of Cheshire Police,” it adds.