Tomorrow, ESN Report launches Under Investigation: a series on what the police misconduct system is doing to the officers caught up in it. Since last week, officers from across the country have told us their stories, in confidence. Among them: A year under gross misconduct investigation over a Halloween costume from a zombie video game. A retired officer told he faced Crown Court and the loss of his pension over an allegation from 2003. Fourteen months later, it had not even reached the criminal threshold. An officer cleared, then still barred from returning to their unit. The wife of an officer who says she lost her husband to a 15-month investigation. They tell it in their own words…. To read it, sign up for the free ESN Report newsletter via the link in the comments or in our bio, and help us reach 100,000 subscribers. Has the misconduct system gone too far? Tell us in the comments.

Police Say Officer Was Seriously Assaulted After Stopping to Help Man Who Appeared Unconscious Members of the public helped hold the man until other officers arrived, and Derbyshire Police want to hear from them A female Derbyshire officer was in Derby on another matter on the afternoon of Thursday 22 October when she came across a man who appeared to be lying unconscious in the street. As she tried to help him, police said, he became violent and assaulted her. A number of men came to her aid and helped secure him until other officers arrived and he was arrested. She was taken to hospital and has since been discharged. Police are asking anyone who helped or saw what happened to call 101 quoting reference 26*643054. Chief Constable Simon Blatchly thanked those who stepped in and said they did not hesitate. Officers know they may have to put themselves in harm's way, he said, but all this officer was trying to do was help the man, and instead, in his words, she was seriously assaulted. Would you have stepped in to help? Share your thoughts in the comments. For more stories like this, sign up to the free ESN Report newsletter via the link in the comments or in our bio, and help us reach 100,000 subscribers.

Outrage as Man Avoids Jail After Attacking Two Paramedics in the Back of an Ambulance Ion Tudor, 57, had already been cautioned for assaulting an emergency worker in 2022 On 15 June, two paramedics answered a call to a man found unconscious in Walsall, roused him and helped him onto their ambulance, where, the court was told, he refused treatment and became "obstructive and resistant". The prosecutor told Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court that Ion Tudor grabbed one paramedic by the wrist and would not let go, then bent her fingers back, before grabbing at the other paramedic's breast. Both pressed their panic buttons, and the police who arrived arrested him at the scene, noting, the prosecutor said, that he appeared "heavily intoxicated". Tudor admitted two assaults on emergency workers and using abusive words. Through an interpreter, he told the court he had been assaulted and had his bag taken shortly before, and that "I thought they were the same people." He said he knew nothing until he reached hospital. One paramedic was left in pain, bruised and feeling "vulnerable, violated and unsafe", while the other was in pain from a finger that had been "twisted and bent". The court heard the distress they suffered could have a lasting psychological impact on them. On 12 October, Tudor was given a 12-month community order with alcohol and mental health treatment, a £120 fine and £100 compensation to each paramedic. The lead magistrate said: "For these two offences, we feel it is serious enough to make a community order." Do you think that is fair? Share your thoughts in the comments. For more stories like this, sign up to the free ESN Report newsletter via the link in our bio, and help us reach 100,000 subscribers.

1/3: A court had already acquitted North Wales PC Richard Williams of assault and strangulation over an arrest in Porthmadog, caught on bodycam. Then came a week-long misconduct hearing on eight gross misconduct charges over the same arrest.

In the last two days, our inbox has filled with messages from officers and staff who have been through the misconduct system. Officers cleared after a year or more under investigation. A retired officer pulled back in over an allegation from more than 20 years ago. An officer found to have no case to answer who still cannot go back to their unit. Careers on hold, health broken, families pushed to the limit, and at the end of it, often not even an apology. As former emergency workers ourselves, we are genuinely shocked at how our colleagues are being treated. On Tuesday we will publish a full write-up, with their stories in their own words. Should there be a time limit on misconduct investigations? Tell us in the comments. If you have been through it yourself, message us in confidence. To read Tuesday's write-up, sign up to the free ESN Report newsletter via the link in our bio or in the comments.

Burglar Freed From Prison in May 2025 Stole Great War Medal From Elderly Man's Home Jody Stones was released from prison in May 2025. This year he broke into two homes in Peterborough, the second while an elderly man was asleep inside, and fled with the man's grandfather's Great War service medal An elderly man woke to find a masked burglar standing by his bed, and when challenged, the intruder jumped from a first-floor balcony and ran off with his wallet, bank cards, passport, gold watch, coin and stamp collection and his grandfather's Great War service medal. The burglar was Jody Stones, 41, who had been released from prison in May 2025 and had already broken into another home in Peterborough two weeks earlier, taking a gilet and a martial arts training sword with a combined value of about £740. Enquiries showed he had approached local collectibles dealers to sell the stolen coins, and officers recovered the coins and the medal and returned them to the victim. Stones was arrested on 17 August when he went to Thorpe Wood Police Station to answer bail. He pleaded guilty to two burglaries and was jailed for six years and nine months at Peterborough Crown Court on 16 October, and he also admitted six further burglaries, three car thefts and handling stolen goods. Detective Constable George Corney said: "Stones is a career burglar who showed a complete disregard for the sentence he was already serving for the exact same offences." He added: "I am glad Stones is now back behind bars." What do you make of this case? Share your thoughts in the comments. For more stories like this, sign up to the free ESN Report newsletter via the link in our bio.

One in prison, one bike in the crusher. But watch the video closely, because the most telling moment isn't the pursuit.... Bobby Duxfield, 21, threatened a man walking his dog with a machete in Darlington, then fled police on a Surron e-bike at high speed, narrowly missing pedestrians and other traffic. @NPAShq tracked him through the town, the bike was stung on Tornado Way, and officers recovered a large machete, cocaine and £1,320 in cash. He has now been jailed for three years and banned from driving for three years, and the bike has been crushed under Durham Constabulary's Operation ORB. Now watch his reaction when officers tell him he will likely go to prison. He looks surprised. A machete, Class A drugs, cash and a dangerous pursuit through a town, and he genuinely didn't think custody was on the cards. That tells you a lot about how some offenders see the consequences. The more brazen they get, the more they seem to believe they'll walk away from it. Chief Inspector Sarah Hindmarsh said it is only by chance nobody was seriously hurt or killed. Do you think the courts are keeping pace with how brazen offenders have become? It seems pretty clear that serious criminals are becoming more brazen because they know that the prisons are full and that they will likely not get a custodial sentence (apart this these two) Footage credit: @DurhamPolice & @NPASNorthEast

Eleven Devon and Cornwall Police officers spent 15 months accused of using software to fake keyboard activity. On Wednesday, a misconduct hearing found no case to answer. Only three of them are still in the job.... The Police Federation calls it "a pointless witch hunt" and asks how much public money was spent. We've asked too: ESN Report has sent the force a Freedom of Information request for the full cost, and we'll report the answer first. Should Devon and Cornwall Police apologise to the eleven? Tell us in the comments. The full story will be coming out later today. Sign up for our free newsletter (link in comments/bio) so you do not miss it.

Man Arrested After Nottingham Officer Shot Is Recalled to Prison, Police Say The 30-year-old was questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender, as seven people are now arrested over the shooting of an officer at a bus stop in Angel Row A Nottinghamshire Police officer was shot in the foot shortly before 04:50 hours on Sunday 18 October, after he approached a man and a woman at a bus stop in Angel Row, Nottingham. He remains in hospital for further treatment, and Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said his injuries are not life-threatening but "it's most likely to be life-altering". Among the seven people now arrested is a 30-year-old man, detained in Bedfordshire in the early hours of Monday and questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender. Police said he has since been recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his licence. Detectives have been granted a warrant of further detention at Nottingham Magistrates' Court to keep questioning a 27-year-old woman, two people arrested on Wednesday remain in custody and three others have been released on conditional bail. No charges have been announced. The Police Federation of England and Wales called the shooting a "stark reminder of the dangers police officers face every day". Det Ch Supt Richard Bull, who described it as an "appalling incident", said: "The injured officer was carrying out his duty to protect the public and it is truly abhorrent that this has happened to him." Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting incident 106 of 18 October, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. For more stories like this, sign up to the free ESN Report newsletter via the link in our bio.