PUBLIC OUTCRY grows as crowdfunding campaign launched to support PC Lorne Castle, 46, who was twice commended for bravery including saving elderly woman from drowning
A decorated police officer who twice risked his life to save drowning members of the public has been sacked for swearing at a knife-wielding teenager suspected of attacking a pensioner.
PC Lorne Castle, 46, was dismissed without notice from Dorset Police after a misconduct panel ruled he showed a “lack of courtesy and respect” to the 15-year-old boy during an arrest in Bournemouth town centre in January 2024.
The decision has sparked widespread fury, with fellow officers warning they are now “afraid to use force” and a crowdfunding campaign launched by his former boss seeking to raise a year’s salary for the married father-of-two.
‘Woke witch hunt’
Campaigners have branded the dismissal a “woke witch hunt” after bodycam footage showed Castle telling the teenager to “show me your f****** hands and stop being a little b****” as a Stanley knife fell from the youth’s waistband during the struggle.
The teenager had allegedly assaulted an elderly man while riding an e-scooter and was involved in a violent incident at a McDonald’s before fleeing from town marshals when PC Castle intervened.
Despite tearfully apologising for his “out of character” behaviour at last week’s three-day misconduct hearing, Castle was found guilty of gross misconduct by an independent panel led by Wiltshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Deborah Smith.
Hero cop’s remarkable record
The dismissal has outraged the public, particularly given Castle’s extraordinary service record spanning over a decade:
- 2017: First commended for saving a member of the public from drowning
- 2021: Named Dorset Police Officer of the Year for “outstanding service
- 2021: Twice awarded Commander’s Commendations – first for helping a youth away from anti-social behaviour into an apprenticeship, then for disrupting a County Lines drug operation, seizing £15,000 of Class A drugs
- 2023: Received National Humane Society award for risking his life to save an elderly woman with dementia from drowning in the fast-flowing River Avon in Christchurch
- Nine years of exemplary service with not a single previous complaint
‘Overwhelmed and scared’
During the hearing, PC Castle explained he became “overwhelmed and scared” when the boy resisted arrest, with his mind flashing back to a traumatic incident 18 months earlier when arresting a County Lines drug dealer left him fearing for his life.
“I’m embarrassed by the video and I apologise for my actions,” the officer said through tears. “Anyone who knows me in public or private life knows that is not how I behave… During this arrest, when he started resisting and screaming, I panicked again and overreacted.”
The panel ruled his “shouting, swearing, finger pointing, taking hold of the boy’s face and throat and suggested use of leg restraints was not necessary, reasonable or proportionate.”
Police Federation’s stark warning
Dorset Police Federation has demanded “urgent clarification” from senior officers, warning that members are now doubting whether they should use force to overpower suspects.
“We want to ensure that our members feel that they will be supported when using force lawfully and proportionately,” a spokesman said.
One anonymous officer told reporters: “We are expected to protect the public, yet when we do, we are vilified for not being polite enough.
Former boss launches fightback
Chris Amey, a retired Chief Inspector who mentored Castle and left Dorset Police in 2022 “ashamed” of the force’s direction, has launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Support for Lorne & the Castle Family.
I’ve not seen one negative comment aimed at Lorne but conversely plenty at Dorset Police,” Amey wrote. “The public feel just as angry, hurt and frustrated over this as Lorne does.”
He revealed Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell had said she was “never in any doubt that PC Castle’s actions were excessive, aggressive and inappropriate” – suggesting to Amey that “this outcome was already predetermined.
Home Secretary under pressure
A petition demanding Castle’s reinstatement has gathered momentum, with campaigners calling on Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to intervene.
Norman Brennan, founder of campaign group Protect the Protectors, said: “The Home Office should be looking at this, and if I was the Home Secretary I would be really concerned about what’s going on at Dorset Police at the moment. It was an abysmal decision to dismiss him. All common sense has gone out of the window.”
Teen faced no assault charges
Adding to the controversy, the 15-year-old faced no further action for the alleged assaults on the pensioner and McDonald’s incident “as there were no complaints made.” He received only an out-of-court disposal for carrying the knife.
Castle’s fellow officers reported his conduct to supervisors, leading to a 16-month investigation before the misconduct proceedings.
‘Are we focusing more on politeness than protection?’
Critics argue the case highlights a dangerous shift in policing priorities. As one commentator put it: “Do we now expect police officers to gently ring up suspects and ask, ‘Would now be a convenient time to arrest you for assault and possession of a knife?’
“Policing is not a PR exercise. It is real, dangerous, and at times messy. Officers must act fast, think fast, and often put their lives on the line.
The case has reignited debate about whether British policing has lost touch with public expectations, with many arguing that an officer who twice risked his life to save drowning citizens deserves better than dismissal for using strong language while arresting an armed suspect.
PC Castle has been placed on the police barred list, preventing him from ever serving in policing again. His supporters continue to fight for his reinstatement, arguing that losing such an experienced and decorated officer over “hurt feelings” represents everything wrong with modern policing.
To support PC Castle and his family, visit the GoFundMe page “Support for Lorne & the Castle Family” or sign the Change.org petition “Reinstate PC Lorne Castle
