A police inspector based at High Wycombe Police Station who punched a man while on a train has been sacked from the force. 

Inspector Christopher Davidson was dismissed without notice on Thursday (April 6) following a public misconduct hearing in front of a panel led by a legally qualified chairman at Thames Valley Police’s headquarters South, in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

On July 11 last year, Inspector Davidson was travelling on a train from High Wycombe when he punched a man. 

During the investigation of the incident Inspector Davidson made dishonest or misleading statements, including telling Superintendent Ed McLean that he went over to the man to calm the situation and, that as he approached, the man swung at him and caught him on his right eye.

In a witness statement on September 1, 2016, Inspector Davidson said his actions aimed to calm the situation and were in lawful self-defence.

However the panel found that Inspector Davidson struck the man first, he knew that there was no lawful justification for his actions and he knew that his actions were not designed to calm the situation.

The panel found it proven that Inspector Davidson had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of honesty and integrity, use of force and discreditable conduct.

Deputy Chief Constable John Campbell said: “Inspector Davidson assaulted a member of the public while travelling on a train and was dishonest when providing an account about the circumstances. There was no justification whatsoever for his actions.

“We expect our officers to uphold high standards of behaviour, whether they are on or off duty. Inspector Davidson failed to do so and there is no place in our Force for those who behave in the manner he did.”