‘Work boobies’: Police constable sacked for taking topless selfies in uniform

SACKED: Alisha Staves leaving the misconduct hearing in Goole

By Angus Young

A police officer has been sacked for taking topless selfies in her uniform.

PC Alisha Staves was dismissed at the end of a misconduct hearing chaired by Humberside Police Chief Constable Chris Todd today.

The 31-year-old worked in the force’s firearms licensing department in Hull.

In one image taken in an office storeroom, she posed topless while wearing a police fleece jacket and cargo trousers.

She sent the image to her then partner with the message: “Maybe Mrs officer can give you a helping hand.”

In the other taken at her home, she posed semi-naked in a police stab vest, showing her partially exposed breasts.

Staves also sent this image to her then partner with the message: “Work boobies”.

The hearing was told both messages were discovered on her private phone during a download of all her electronic devices as part of an unrelated police investigation.

At the time of the discovery, she was the subject of an unspecified written warning.

WORKPLACE: Staves was based at Priory Road police station

Andrew Pickin, representing Humberside Police, said Staves claimed she sent the image of her in the firearms licensing storeroom in response to doubts expressed by her partner that she was a frontline police officer.

“She accepts this was an error of judgement and unprofessional behaviour,” he said.

Matthew Barron, for Staves, who joined the force in 2019, said: “It was a mistake. She was being pressured by her partner who was teasing her about not being a real police officer.

“There was a degree of trying to make a bit of a joke about it.

“She accepts it was a poor decision, particularly the second one being taken on police premises.

“It was her honest belief they would never be shared further or be put in the public domain as has now happened as evidence in this case.”

Mr Barron said she believed no-one would have entered the storeroom while she was taking the semi-naked selfie.

Giving his ruling, Chief Constable Todd said Staves would be dismissed immediately without written notice because there were no exceptional mitigating circumstances.

He said there had been a clear breach of professional standards which amounted to gross misconduct.

In a statement after the hearing, Detective Superintendent Rebecca Dickinson, the force’s head of professional standards, said: “The balance between individuals’ rights to a private life and the expectations placed on police officers is complex and sensitive, but it is also a long‑established feature of policing that behaviour which undermines integrity or public trust may be addressed through professional standards processes.

“As an organisation we are under a duty to act if we encounter information that may indicate misconduct. The organisation cannot ignore potential breaches of the standards of professional behaviour when they come to light, regardless of the context in which the information is obtained.

“The majority of our officers and staff will always act with the utmost professionalism at all times, however we are committed to ensure those who fail to uphold the high standards we expect are held to account for their actions.”