‘Deceptive' cop who weighed down laptop keys to make it look like he was working barred from policing
A COP who weighed down laptop keys to make it look like he was working from home was barred from policing.
PC Liam Reakes's actions cost his force more than 100 hours.
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Concerns were raised about his efforts before a September 2024 audit of keystrokes flagged his total as much higher than others doing similar jobs.
Reakes would have been sacked had he not quit in Yeovil, Somerset.
A panel found he committed gross misconduct.
Reakes did not attend the hearing.
He admitted opening a blank Word document and holding down the Z key for long periods.
He denyied this was to give a false impression he was working from home.
Det Supt Larisa Hunt said: 'PC Reakes was the subject of an action plan and was allocated a tutor due to concerns over his performance prior to the keyboard audit being carried out.
'The use of any device or system to replicate keyboard activity is wholly wrong and deceptive and the public will be rightly outraged at this behaviour.
'Not only has he let down those he made a commitment to serve and protect but he's also let down his colleagues, who are continuing to deal with significant pressure and workloads.'
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