TWO police officers have been given written warnings for misconduct after allegedly abandoning a vulnerable man in Alcester.

Police sergeant Peter Nightingale, a West Mercia Police officer based at Worcester, and police constable Ben Trowman, a Warwickshire Police officer based at Evesham, appeared before a tribunal at Leek Wootton in Warwickshire this week, facing allegations that during the course of their duty on February 2, 2016 they failed to take a vulnerable man to an appropriate place of safety.

The hearing, which started on Wednesday and concluded today (Friday, October 27), found they both breached the standards of professional behaviour expected of them.

The hearing was conducted by Steven Evans, an independent, legally qualified chair, and follows an investigation by the Professional Standards Department (PSD) of Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police.

Chief Inspector Rebecca Love, of the Professional Standards Department for Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police said: "The Panel found that PC 0058 Trowman's and PS 0305 Nightingale's actions amounted to misconduct and breached the standards of professional behaviour in the area of duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct. It is for this reason both received a written warning.The independent legally qualified chair also recommended that the officers should receive relevant training and supervision so that this incident is not repeated."

Chief Inspector Love added: "We expect all our officers and staff to recognise that a person is vulnerable if, as a result of their situation or circumstances, they are unable to take care of, or protect themselves or others from harm or exploitation.

"We are working hard to ensure all of our staff understand this broader definition of vulnerability and are able to act accordingly when carrying out their duties."

The outcome of the misconduct hearing is subject to the normal appeals process.

The outcomes of misconduct proceedings are published quarterly. To view them, go to westmercia.police.uk/article/12113/How-we-manage-improper-behaviour---Forthcoming-public-misconduct-hearings.