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PC Jonathan Biggins is also accused of fabricating records. Biggins was part of a long-running drug-fighting operation in Weston-super-Mare.
Each occurrence happened in 2020.
All accusations are false, and Mr. Biggins, who has since left the Avon and Somerset Police, rejects them all.
On May 16, at the force headquarters in Portishead, Mr. Biggins’ claimed actions of reportedly seizing and then returning Class A narcotics to users during three separate stop-and-searches in exchange for information on the sellers were brought up during the misconduct hearing.
The information given to PC Biggins quickly resulted in the arrests of the alleged dealers.
‘Body camera turned off’
Attorney George Thomas, speaking on behalf of the police, said that PC Biggins also switched off his body camera at critical times during the events, preventing footage of his conduct.
According to him, every time a drug user stopped, they “rapidly and peacefully volunteered precise, useful proof about those providing the drugs to them.”
It is “remarkable,” according to Mr. Thomas, that they would be “willing to interfere with their own access to drugs by disclosing their source to a police officer.”
He said, “there would be no motivation for them to do so.”
‘Sort this out another way’
The third instance, according to him, occurred on July 28, 2020, when PC Biggins stopped to investigate a guy who was carrying one wrap of cocaine and one wrap of heroin.
The drug addict said in his comment that PC Biggins assured him, “we could figure this out another way,” and returned the cocaine, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
The man then provided him with details of a dealer.
In a later submission of evidence, PC Biggins only included one wrap, according to Mr. Thomas, who claimed the other was really rolled-up clingfilm.
In September 2020, after receiving complaints from a few of PC Biggins’ coworkers, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) opened an inquiry.
In terms of power, respect, civility, duties, and commands and instructions, he is said to have violated the rules of professional conduct for police officers. He is also accused of engaging in dishonest or improper activity.
Inquiry is still going on.