A THAMES Valley Police officer is accused of stealing food from his work canteen only one week into his new job.

PC Jamie Larman allegedly took seven meals from the training centre cafeteria in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, despite knowing that he wasn’t allowed them and that he had not paid for them.

It is understood that the tills at the police cafe are not always manned and officers who are in training or visiting the centre are told to leave money on the side.

The incidents are alleged to have taken place earlier this year, between January 29 and February 6.

PC Larman will now face an accelerated misconduct hearing in front of John Campbell, the head of Thames Valley Police.

If it is proven, then the former police officer – who quit his job on February 10 two weeks after starting training – will have breached the standards of professional behaviour expected of him in regards to honesty and integrity.

The accusations are so serious that if proven he will be guilty of gross misconduct and his name could be put on a blacklist – banning him from ever applying for a job in the police again.

Usually hearings take place at the Thames Valley Police headquarters in Kidlington and members of the public are generally allowed to attend the sessions.

However, because of the coronavirus pandemic, all non-essential travel has been banned and the accelerated hearing will now happen over the phone on Thursday.

The idea of an accelerated hearing is that there is already enough evidence from statements or CCTV to suggest that the officer concerned is probably guilty.

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Accelerated hearings are also called for when it is in the public interest for the officer to be fired without delay.

The outcome of Thursday’s call will be published after the hearing.