Bravery award nominated PC barred for sexual misconduct

A police officer who was nominated for a bravery award after saving people from a tower block fire has been barred from policing for sexual impropriety.

Former PC Justin Robbie, who was based in Bristol, was one of the first on the scene of the Twinnell House fire in 2022 and saved two men who were hanging from a top-floor window ledge.

He has now been dismissed without notice from Avon and Somerset Police for gross misconduct following inappropriate requests and messages he sent to a female colleague.

Temporary Supt Sharon Baker said: "There can be no place in policing for anyone acting in such an inappropriate way."

The former police officer was found to have breached four professional standards after a two-day hearing at the force's headquarters in Portishead.

The panel heard Mr Robbie sent "inappropriate requests, communication and an unsolicited image" to a female colleague working who was also working for Avon and Somerset Police at the time.

Supt Baker, head of the force's professional standards department, said Mr Robbie's conduct "fell well below the standards required of anyone serving in the police".

"He behaved in a manner that discredits the police service and will no doubt undermine public confidence," she said.

"His actions towards the woman violated her dignity, who he knew did not want him to behave in such a manner.

"We hope this decision to bar him from working within policing ever again sends a strong message to the public that such behaviour will not be tolerated whatsoever."

In 2023, Mr Robbie's actions had been celebrated by the force when he was nominated for the National Police Bravery Award.

It came after he ran into the burning Easton tower block in September 2022 with no protective equipment and directed residents to exit the building.

One man died in the fire but, assisted by a firefighter, Mr Robbie helped to pull two men to safety .

Mr Robbie attended an awards ceremony in London and while he did not win an award, his nomination was something Avon and Somerset Police said at the time it was "proud of".