William Matthews
Introduction
William Matthews is a former police constable with Cheshire Constabulary who served in the force’s firearms department and was barred from policing after an accelerated misconduct hearing found he sent and received messages indicating familiarity with controlled drugs and the recreational use of nitrous oxide while he was a serving officer. Chief Constable Mark Roberts, acting as decision maker, determined the conduct amounted to gross misconduct, noting that Matthews showed no remorse and offered no credible explanation. Matthews had already resigned, so the hearing ruled instead on what would have happened had he still been serving: dismissal without notice.
Background Information
Matthews worked as a firearms officer with Cheshire Police — a role the Chief Constable expressly highlighted when assessing the seriousness of the drug-related messages, given the responsibilities attached to authorised firearms duties. The conduct considered by the hearing took place between May 1 and November 14, 2025, and was found on his personal mobile phone: messages and online activity indicating familiarity with, and association with, controlled drug use and recreational nitrous oxide use while he was serving with the force.
The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation
Misconduct findings, not criminal convictions. The account below comes from a Cheshire Constabulary accelerated misconduct hearing held on August 10, 2026, decided by Chief Constable Mark Roberts. The proven breaches concerned Integrity and Discreditable Conduct. The sources report no criminal charges arising from the messages.
The hearing considered messages and online activity on Matthews’ personal mobile phone over a roughly six-month window in 2025. The messages indicated familiarity with and association with controlled drug use and recreational nitrous oxide use during his service. Chief Constable Roberts highlighted that Matthews was working in the force’s Firearms Department during the period, determined the conduct amounted to gross misconduct, and said the former officer had shown no remorse and had not provided a credible explanation. Matthews had resigned from Cheshire Police on July 6, 2026, about a month before the hearing. The Chief Constable determined that dismissal without notice would have been the appropriate disciplinary outcome had Matthews remained a serving officer.
Public Reaction and Consequences
The outcome, published in September 2026, was reported by the police-misconduct tracker Misconduct999 under a headline describing the firearms officer as barred over “drug and nitrous oxide messages.” Matthews was placed on the Barred List, preventing him from re-entering the policing profession in the UK. No public statement from Matthews, and no challenge to the outcome, was reported in the sources available.
Current Status
Matthews resigned from Cheshire Police in July 2026 and was barred from policing following the August 2026 accelerated hearing. The bar means no UK force can employ him as a police officer, police staff member, or in associated policing roles covered by the list.
Impact on Their Career/Life
A firearms role is among the most tightly vetted positions in British policing, and drug-related messages found on a serving firearms officer’s phone ended this one outright. The gross-misconduct determination and barred-list entry permanently exclude Matthews from the profession, and the published outcome attaches the findings to his name for any future employer conducting background checks.
Sources
- Misconduct999, “Firearms Cop PC William Matthews Barred From Policing Over Drug And Nitrous Oxide Messages,” 2 September 2026. source