Cambridgeshire Police officer dismissed for lying under oath in criminal trial
PC Kayleigh Rocca, based at Parkside Police Station, was found to have committed gross misconduct
Last updated 6th Feb 2025
A Cambridgeshire police officer has been dismissed after a misconduct hearing found she lied under oath while giving evidence in a criminal trial.
PC Kayleigh Rocca, based at Parkside Police Station, was found to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to honesty and integrity, as well as discreditable conduct, amounting to gross misconduct.
The hearing, held at Bedfordshire Police Headquarters on 31 January, heard that PC Rocca gave evidence as the officer in the case during a Crown Court trial. Her false statements led to the judge finding an abuse of process, and the case—relating to offences against a child—was dismissed.
Chief Constable Nick Dean said: “PC Rocca was in a position of responsibility, giving evidence under oath before a judge and jury. Her conduct jeopardised a criminal investigation.”
A panel found that PC Rocca had multiple opportunities to correct her statements but only did so during cross-examination months later. The Crown Prosecution Service subsequently recorded an adverse judicial finding, preventing her from acting as a witness in future cases.
While the panel acknowledged PC Rocca was relatively new to the job and panicked under pressure, it concluded her actions had caused significant harm to public confidence in policing.
The panel chair stated: “It is entirely unacceptable for a police officer to lie while giving evidence in a criminal trial. Even under stress, officers must be expected to tell the truth.”
PC Rocca was dismissed without notice and placed on the College of Policing barred list.