An award-winning volunteer police sergeant has resigned after being caught drink-driving the morning after consuming over a bottle of wine while completing paperwork for the force.
Claire Mumford, 47, a Special Sergeant with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, was pulled over on 13 March 2025 while off-duty, driving her daughter—who had been bitten by a dog—to hospital near Knighton, Isle of Wight.
A breathalyser test showed Mumford was over the legal alcohol limit, and she was later arrested and taken to Newport Police Station. A test showed 54mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath — the legal limit being 35mg.
The misconduct hearing, held at the force’s headquarters in Eastleigh, Hampshire, heard that Mumford had consumed the wine late at night on 12 March while feeling “pressured” to complete administrative police work. She had fallen asleep, then awoke at 11:15pm due to stress and continued drinking as she worked.
In a statement read on her behalf, Mumford said:
“My daughter called to say she had been bitten by a dog and needed to go to A&E, which was when I was pulled over and breathalysed. I was not feeling hungover. I am ashamed and embarrassed by what happened.”
In April, Mumford pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court, receiving a 12-month driving ban and a fine. She subsequently resigned from the force.
Detective Sergeant Chris Whittington, who led the investigation, confirmed Mumford had no idea she was still over the limit and expressed remorse for her actions. Despite her service, the misconduct panel ruled that had she not already resigned, she would have been dismissed for gross misconduct.
Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson acknowledged her years of community service but concluded:
“This is a tragic case which has ended in you being found guilty of drink-driving. To uphold the standards of the force, I judge that she would have been dismissed had she been a serving officer.”
Mumford had served for eight years and was part of the team named Special Constabulary Team of the Year in 2022.
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Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.
Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.
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