A police officer in north east Essex has been dismissed for gross misconduct after a panel found he breached expected standards of honesty and integrity.

The officer, who has not yet been named, was alleged to have sought employment with two outside companies, while on suspension from Essex Police for unrelated matters.

He was found to have lied about his circumstances when he applied for the jobs, failed to disclose the employment to Essex Police and asked another officer to act in a dishonest manner.

The officer, who was based in Tendring, was also on a final written warning in relation to his behaviour at the time of the allegations.

Disciplinary panel chairman ACC Maurice Mason, in dismissing the officer, said: “The public of Essex demand their police officers behave and conduct themselves to the highest moral and professional standards.

“This officer breached the standards of professional behaviour set out in the schedule to the Police Regulations 2012.

“These breaches are considered so serious that there is no other possible proportionate outcome and his further employment by Essex Police is untenable.”