Sacked for Doing His Job? PC Lorne Castle and the Madness of Modern Policing. Are we focusing more on politeness than protection?

Has policing been completely dismantled and now heading towards complete madness?

A Dorset Police officer has been dismissed following a misconduct hearing—raising serious questions about how we treat those tasked with protecting us.

PC Lorne Castle, a police constable with nine years of service, has been sacked after a gross misconduct panel ruled against him for the language used during the arrest of a knife-carrying teenager in January last year.

The 15-year-old boy in question was believed to have been involved in the assault of a pensioner and another violent incident at a fast-food outlet. He had run from town marshals and was found to be in possession of a knife at the time of the arrest. PC Castle, responding to the escalating threat, pursued the teenager and used force to detain him.

Body-worn footage recorded PC Castle telling the teenager, “Show me your fing hands and stop being a little bh.” He was also seen placing a hand on the boy’s throat—not grabbing, but attempting to restrain him. The panel found that while taking the suspect to the ground was “reasonable and proportionate,” the swearing, finger-pointing, and use of leg restraints constituted unnecessary force.

So, let’s be very clear here: PC Castle wasn’t dismissed for arresting a knife-carrying teenager. He was dismissed for how he spoke to him and the tone of the restraint, not the actual act of stopping a dangerous suspect.

This decision has sent ripples through police circles and beyond. Many are calling it “total madness.” Why? Because it taps into a growing sentiment: officers are under immense pressure, often putting their lives on the line, only to be hung out to dry for split-second decisions made in high-stress, dangerous situations.

“We are expected to protect the public, yet when we do, we are vilified for not being polite enough,” said one anonymous officer reacting to the news.

Officers like PC Castle go to work never expecting to come home praised. But they certainly don’t expect to be sacked for doing their jobs either. How are officers supposed to detain violent suspects if they are not even allowed to show visible signs of frustration or command authority in the moment?

This incident raises some uncomfortable questions:

• Is there now a risk that good officers will simply walk away from the job?
• Who will want to sign up to be a police officer when even tackling knife crime can cost you your career?

Let’s be realistic. Knife crime is a daily battle in cities across the UK. These aren’t well-mannered suspects handing themselves in at reception desks. These can be dangerous individuals, often armed, who pose a very real threat to the public.

And when officers like PC Castle, who don’t use excessive violence but instead are judged for their tone of voice, are dismissed—it sends a message. And it’s not a good one.

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. There must, of course, be accountability—but are we punishing the wrong things? Are we focusing more on politeness than protection?

PC Lorne Castle’s dismissal isn’t just about one officer. It’s about the future of policing in this country.

Because if officers are going to be sacked for swearing in an aggressive situation, we may soon be asking ourselves not how to police knife crime—but who is even willing to try.

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