Edward Reed, a former Thames Valley police constable, is expected to be barred from policing following a misconduct hearing that found him guilty of gross misconduct. The panel reviewed several incidents involving Reed, including an inappropriate remark he made in 2023, when he referred to a teenage girl working at a petrol station as “local talent.”

In addition to this comment, the panel heard that Reed had made inappropriate remarks about the physical appearance of his colleagues, specifically commenting on their bottoms. The misconduct proceedings also considered allegations that Reed had touched colleagues in an inappropriate manner.

The panel concluded that these actions constituted gross misconduct, stating that Reed would have been dismissed from the police force if he had not resigned beforehand. Consequently, the panel recommended that Reed’s name be added to the College of Policing’s barred list, which would prevent him from working in any policing role in the future.

Reed’s case highlights ongoing concerns within law enforcement about appropriate conduct and the treatment of both the public and colleagues. The Thames Valley Police force has maintained that such behavior is unacceptable and that it supports measures to hold officers accountable for misconduct. Reed has not publicly commented on the outcome of the hearing. The College of Policing will consider the panel’s recommendation before finalizing his status on the barred list.