(Image: Stuart Boulton)
Four Durham Police officers face the sack and four more could be given final warnings after complaints of a boozy trip to Spain.
Eight male officers - six police constables, a sergeant and a special constable - all based at Chester-le-Street police station, were suspended in October 2025 - following reports about their behaviour while off-duty on holiday.
It is understood the allegations surrounding the trip involve an inappropriate tattoo, although the precise nature of the complaints has never been officially confirmed.
Durham Police has confirmed four of the group will face gross misconduct hearings.
The officers, whose ranks have not been confirmed, remain suspended from duty. They could be struck off or even barred from policing if the allegations are proven.
The other four have returned to the frontline, but were also found to have a case to answer for alleged misconduct, and will have misconduct meetings with senior officers when they could be handed a final written warning, Durham Police confirmed.
The decision that the officers have a case to answer does not mean the allegations have been proven.
A Durham Police spokesperson said: "Eight Durham Constabulary officers were suspended in October 2025 while an investigation was carried out by the force’s Professional Standards Department into allegations that they failed to uphold standards of professional behaviour.
"As a result of these enquiries, four of the officers were found to have a case to answer in respect of misconduct. They have returned to work and will undergo misconduct meetings.
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"A further four were found to have a case to answer in respect of gross misconduct. They remain suspended from duty and will face misconduct hearings on a date to be confirmed."
Gross misconduct hearings deal with allegations serious enough to justify dismissal without notice, while misconduct meetings deal with less serious breaches of police standards.
Police officers can face disciplinary action for their conduct even when they are off duty.