A police officer who assaulted a member of staff at a Stratford pub has been dismissed from the force.

A special case misconduct hearing, which took place yesterday, heard how Pc Melanie Davies visited the Bat and Ball in Westfield Stratford City while on sick leave in May.

The 36-year-old was refused service at the bar as staff felt she was drunk and was escorted from the building, which was when she assaulted a staff member.

Asst Comm Helen King, lead for professionalism and chair of the hearing, said: “Police officers are granted powers over their fellow citizens to enforce the law on others and, where necessary, to use force in order to do so.

“This requires that the public and law makers have confidence that those entrusted to uphold the law will comply with it themselves, both on and off duty.

“Some cases are clearly more serious than others both in the category of the offence and all the surrounding circumstances.

“An offence of assault, however minor, is one that has to be seen as serious given the nature and responsibilities of a police officer’s role. Therefore the only appropriate action for Pc Davies in this case is dismissal.”

Pc Davies, who is attached to Wandsworth borough, had previously been found guilty of assault at Thames Magistrates’ Court.

She was sentenced to a fine of £430 on August 31.