Support for Lorne & the Castle Family

Hi, my name is Chris Amey. I'm a retired T/Chief Inspector having served 30 years with both the Metropolitan Police and 'ashamedly' with Dorset Police for the remaining 17years up until May 22. I'll explain why I am ashamed here...

on Thursday 29th May 2025, Lorne Castle was dismissed without notice at a Dorset Police Gross Misconduct Hearing which lasted 3 days. He had served the public of Dorset for over 10 years as both a PCSO and Police Constable .

I first met Lorne in 2013 when looking for individuals to become a Community Safety Accredited Officer to patrol a problematic area of Boscombe in Bournemouth for a privately funded initiative to reduce crime and anti social behaviour. His aptitude and enthusiasm was such that I recommended he became a Police Officer . I oversaw his training as both a PCSO and Police Constable and he was a dedicated and exemplary officer throughout.

In 2021 Lorne was twice awarded a Commanders Commendation for firstly, going above and beyond his duty in diverting a young man (the main protagonist) away from Anti Social Behaviour & helping him to find work with an apprenticeship and secondly, in the same quarter, Lorne with a colleague arrested & disrupted a significant drugs operative with links to an organised 'County Lines' crime group , seizing £15,000 worth of Class A drugs and cash.

He was subsequently nominated for and deservedly won in 2021 , the Michael Stannard Community Officer of the Year .

He was again twice commended as a hero in 2017 & just last year (2024) for saving 2 members of the public from drowning in deep, fast flowing, cold water. The latter, an elderly vulnerable missing person with dementia , had waded into the River Avon at Christchurch in Dorset.

Without a thought for his own safety, Lorne entered the water with a rope and secured the lady until other emergency services arrived at scene when she could be recovered safely to the riverbank .

For this act of bravery, Lorne received the highest accolade from the Humane Society which was presented to him at an awards ceremony that Dorset Police 'initially' forgot to invite him to.

Of note, the Chief Constable, Amanda Pearson, shook every single receipients hand at the ceremony except Lorne's.

In Jan 24, Lorne at the end of a 10 hour shift , was sent to arrest a violent masked offender who had assaulted two members of the public in Bournemouth Town Centre. He simply should've hung up his radio for the day and gone home but because none of the oncoming shift offered themselves up for the call and Lorne being the conscientious officer he was , he and a colleague responded.

They were directed by CCTV cameras to a male wearing a hooded face mask stood with a group of other youths.

Lorne was aware this male had assaulted firstly an innocent elderly gentleman in Commercial Road , Bournemouth and then a 14 year old boy in a nearby McDonalds just 30 mins previously . The staff were so concerned that they locked the doors to protect themselves , the victim and other customers.

On attempting to safely detain & arrest this male, Lorne fell to the floor with him as he struggled violently resisting the arrest. He simply did what any one of us would do in that situation ; try to gain control of the subject using reasonable force.

Lorne will admit he panicked when he could not gain control and the group who were with the male, began to encircle them . He called for assistance & eventually with help, he was able to secure the male in handcuffs . It was at this point that the knife ( A double ended 3" blade one end / Stanley blade the other ) fell from the offenders pocket or waistband . This clearly explained the males desperation to fight / take flight.

He admits that the language he used wasn't exactly professional but in the heat of the moment , this can happen. We've all been there and quite frankly who in their right mind cares when faced with this scenario.

The offender was arrested for assault & possesion of a bladed article and handed over to colleagues to later process and interview him.

But,

Instead of carrying out a diligent and proactive investigation (they allowed both victims to withdraw their complaints with v little effort to persuade them otherwise) they seemed more interested that the force used by Lorne was inappropriate and complained to supervising colleagues .

Despite Lorne's Sgt having already been aware and dealing with the matter (we say appropriately) , an Insp looking to become a Chief Inspector took the matter to Dorset's Professional Standards dept who initially said there was no need for them to become involved. That was until their chief decision maker , Supt Ricky Dhanda (who has since been the subject of a sexual misconduct matter himself and is currently not in post) intervened and against advice , decided this matter fell within the Gross Misconduct arena .

Anyone with the slightest comprehension of Police Discipline knows that this matter was at best management action with a development plan if that.

Lorne tackled a violent , knife carrying offender who'd just assaulted an elderly male and a 14 year old boy and instead of commending him, Dorset Police throw him under the bus .

This is not the first time they have done this . In the past couple of years , several good , honest hard working officers have been sent to GM hearings and lost their jobs when misconduct or management action would've sufficed . Dorset Police have also sought to humiliate these officers and their families by notifying the press at the earliest possible stage of proceedings , thrusting them into the public domain.

In contrast, senior officers in Dorset Police have been protected to the hilt when under investigation for far more serious allegations of gross misconduct , specifically, inappropriate sexual relationships where they have been able to resign prior to investigation or their victims have not substantiated the allegation and they have continued in their privileged positions.

Double Standards at its absolute finest .

The 'independent' panel stated that Lorne had failed to act with self-control, and did not treat 'the boy ' with courtesy or respect. His shouting, swearing, finger pointing, taking hold of the boy’s face and throat and suggested use of leg restraints was not necessary, reasonable or proportionate.

Really, do you as members of the public want knife carrying violent offenders treated with respect and courtesy? Personally , I'd like them taken to the floor, handcuffed and sent to court ‍♂️

For context , Lorne was carrying a full range of tactical options including a TASER , PAVA and ASP but he chose to try and detain the male conventionally so as to cause as little or no injury to the male.

And significantly only two days prior to this incident , Bournemouth Town Centre made the national news when two rival gangs were involved in a mass brawl with machetes and knives. Five individuals were hospitalised with three arrested . Lorne and his colleagues were fed information and intelligence via their daily briefing suggesting there were a number of people still at large with capacity to reignite the situation. If you were a police officer in Bournemouth at that time , would that not heighten your awareness in terms of safety when dealing with hooded and masked offenders in the exact same area ??

What is then most concerning and quite frankly appalling is that the investigating officers then saw fit to issue the offender with an 'out of court disposal ' for carrying a knife.

What kind of society have we become to allow that to happen, to say it's okay to carry a knife ??? And not just any knife . A double ended bladed one.

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said amongst other things 'I have never been in any doubt that PC Castle’s actions were excessive, aggressive and inappropriate and I can understand the communities we serve will be concerned about this case'

This suggests that this outcome was already predetermined and along with other factors in this case opens up the possibility of an appeal .

Quite why Lorne would want to return to policing when he has been treated so appallingly is beyond me but I like many would like to see him vindicated and cleared of any wrong doing before he decides his future.

And Rachel is right about one thing , the public are extremely concerned about this case but not in the way she was thinking .

Her own words absolutely make clear that Dorset Police have completely lost touch with reality and the community they serve. The community YOU allow them to Police with YOUR consent.

If you have been following this case you will see a significant overwhelming positive response from huge numbers of the general public both via social media and in person to Lorne himself .

It is fantastic to see that this woke and weak agenda will no longer be tolerated.

A Police Force who bullies and manipulates innocent junior ranks at great expense to the general public yet rallies round and protects its very senior people when they actually do something far worse, is , I would suggest , not fit for purpose.

I couldn't standby and watch a good man and his family suffer at the hands of what can only be described as a 'witch hunt'.

The decisions made in this case have serious and unprecedented consequences for all serving officers looking to proactively stop and search or arrest offenders in possession of bladed weapons . Are they all now expected to go up to such offenders and politely ask them if they'd kindly hand over anything nasty that they might have on them ?

I certainly wouldn't be stopping or searching anyone knowing Rachel and her colleagues could end my career just like they have Lorne's.

How safe do you feel now, knowing that the only cops left are young , inexperienced , weak and woke subservients for a Police Force that has truly lost the public's Trust and Confidence in this part of the world .

I have had many msgs from serving officers privately and anonymously supporting Lorne . They are disgusted and aghast at this outcome.

And for clarity , the male arrested made no complaint against Lorne nor did he attend the hearing and give evidence.

So to the crux....

To lose your job, career, future and security overnight is unthinkable.

When you have a young family to support, it's pressure no one should have to endure . Least of all Lorne , who is the kind of police officer you'd all want protecting our streets and our families.

We want to take that pressure away and allow Lorne and his family time to consider their options . Time to heal from this travesty and time to get back on their feet. Raising any amount of money, would give them financial security for maybe a few days, weeks or months .

I believe the public feel just as angry, hurt and frustrated over this as Lorne does . I gauge that by the numbers coming forward to support him . I've not seen one negative comment aimed at Lorne but conversely plenty at Dorset Police .

It would be amazing to raise at least a years salary for a Constable of Lorne service. Of course , it doesn't need to be that but what a difference it would make to this family in their time of need.

Their daddy is a hero and the best of us. Not what Dorset Police say he is .

We need more people like Lorne , not more Rachel's or her woke and ineffective army of sycophants.

Please only give what you can afford and do leave Lorne & his family a message of support.

Thank you for reading Lorne's story & for backing him. It means the world to him and his family.