Officer dismissed over relationship with juror

A tribunal has dismissed a family liaison officer who failed to disclose (and subsequently lied about) her relationship with a juror.

DC Bryant had been a family liaison officer following the murder of  Lynford Brewster. She assisted the family during the trial of three men for the murder, but did not disclose that one of the jurors was her son’s girlfriend. When, following the conviction of the three men, the relationship emerged and was put to her, she initially denied it.

The tribunal found that this amounted to gross misconduct and dismissed the officer without notice.

Jeremy Johnson QC acted for the Appropriate Authority and presented the disciplinary proceedings.