PC Lee Ribera has been dismissed following a drunken altercation in Norwich that breached public trust and sparked concerns over rising police misconduct in Norfolk.
Norfolk Police Officer Dismissed Following Disturbing Incident
In a troubling episode that has drawn public scrutiny, PC Lee Ribera of the Norfolk Police has been dismissed from his position following a series of reckless actions while off-duty in Norwich’s Castle Quarter. The incident occurred as Ribera celebrated the completion of Taser training, during which he exhibited alarming behaviour that culminated in a physical altercation with a member of the public.
Details from the disciplinary panel reveal that on September 26, Ribera, who had been drinking heavily, was seen not only shouting aggressive commands, including “police” and “Taser,” but also pretending to wield a Taser as he navigated through the bustling shopping area. Witness accounts describe Ribera as behaving erratically, culminating in him grabbing a passing man and subsequently pushing him multiple times. The situation escalated quickly, resulting in the passerby retaliating and knocking the officer unconscious.
At the hearing, Ribera, who joined the police force after a commendable career as an ambulance call handler, admitted to gross misconduct, expressing profound regret and embarrassment over his actions. He claimed to have no memory of the events due to his intoxication but insisted he had been celebrating the successful completion of his training. “I made a critical lapse in judgement,” Ribera stated, emphasising his desire to serve the community with pride.
The panel chairman, Assistant Chief Constable Nicholas Davison, did not mince words when discussing Ribera’s actions, stating they were unacceptable and “discredited the police service.” He highlighted the importance of maintaining public trust in policing, especially given the increasing number of misconduct cases within the Norfolk constabulary, many linked to officers’ inappropriate behaviour while under the influence of alcohol.
This incident follows a troubling trend in the region, where misconduct cases involving officers misusing their positions or engaging in unprofessional conduct have been on the rise. For instance, another Norfolk officer faced dismissal for inappropriate behaviour at a Christmas party, demonstrating a worrying pattern of errant conduct within the ranks.
In a statement following the dismissal, Davison underscored that immediate action was necessary to deter similar behaviour among peers and to preserve the integrity of the police force. The public, he asserted, would expect officers to be held accountable for conduct that undermines their authority and mission to serve and protect.
As the Norfolk constabulary grapples with this latest fallout, it remains crucial for the police force to reinforce ethical conduct and professionalism among its officers, especially in light of recent challenges to public trust in law enforcement across various regions.
Reference Map:
- Paragraph 1 – [[1]](https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25145158.police-officer-sacked-drunken-assault-castle-quarter/?ref=rss), [[2]](https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25145158.police-officer-sacked-drunken-assault-castle-quarter/?ref=rss), [[3]](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-67000000)
- Paragraph 2 – [[1]](https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25145158.police-officer-sacked-drunken-assault-castle-quarter/?ref=rss), [[2]](https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25145158.police-officer-sacked-drunken-assault-castle-quarter/?ref=rss), [[4]](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/08/norfolk-police-officer-dismissed-assault-taser-training)
- Paragraph 3 – [[1]](https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25145158.police-officer-sacked-drunken-assault-castle-quarter/?ref=rss), [[2]](https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25145158.police-officer-sacked-drunken-assault-castle-quarter/?ref=rss), [[5]](https://www.norfolklive.co.uk/news/norfolk-news/norfolk-police-officer-dismissed-assault-67000000)
- Paragraph 4 – [[1]](https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25145158.police-officer-sacked-drunken-assault-castle-quarter/?ref=rss), [[6]](https://www.norfolk.police.uk/news/norfolk-police-officer-dismissed-assault-taser-training)
- Paragraph 5 – [[1]](https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25145158.police-officer-sacked-drunken-assault-castle-quarter/?ref=rss), [[3]](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-67000000), [[5]](https://www.norfolklive.co.uk/news/norfolk-news/norfolk-police-officer-dismissed-assault-67000000)
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25145158.police-officer-sacked-drunken-assault-castle-quarter/?ref=rss – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25145158.police-officer-sacked-drunken-assault-castle-quarter/?ref=rss – PC Lee Ribera, an off-duty Norfolk police officer, was dismissed after a drunken incident in Norwich’s Castle Quarter. Celebrating the completion of his Taser training, Ribera shouted ‘police’ and ‘Taser’ while pretending to hold a device. He then assaulted a passerby, leading to a physical altercation. Ribera admitted to gross misconduct, expressing regret and embarrassment over his actions. The misconduct panel emphasized the need to maintain public confidence in policing and deter similar behavior among officers.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-67000000 – PC Lee Ribera, a Norfolk police officer, was dismissed after a drunken incident in Norwich’s Castle Quarter. Celebrating the completion of his Taser training, Ribera shouted ‘police’ and ‘Taser’ while pretending to hold a device. He then assaulted a passerby, leading to a physical altercation. Ribera admitted to gross misconduct, expressing regret and embarrassment over his actions. The misconduct panel emphasized the need to maintain public confidence in policing and deter similar behavior among officers.
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/08/norfolk-police-officer-dismissed-assault-taser-training – PC Lee Ribera, a Norfolk police officer, was dismissed after a drunken incident in Norwich’s Castle Quarter. Celebrating the completion of his Taser training, Ribera shouted ‘police’ and ‘Taser’ while pretending to hold a device. He then assaulted a passerby, leading to a physical altercation. Ribera admitted to gross misconduct, expressing regret and embarrassment over his actions. The misconduct panel emphasized the need to maintain public confidence in policing and deter similar behavior among officers.
- https://www.norfolklive.co.uk/news/norfolk-news/norfolk-police-officer-dismissed-assault-67000000 – PC Lee Ribera, a Norfolk police officer, was dismissed after a drunken incident in Norwich’s Castle Quarter. Celebrating the completion of his Taser training, Ribera shouted ‘police’ and ‘Taser’ while pretending to hold a device. He then assaulted a passerby, leading to a physical altercation. Ribera admitted to gross misconduct, expressing regret and embarrassment over his actions. The misconduct panel emphasized the need to maintain public confidence in policing and deter similar behavior among officers.
- https://www.norfolk.police.uk/news/norfolk-police-officer-dismissed-assault-taser-training – PC Lee Ribera, a Norfolk police officer, was dismissed after a drunken incident in Norwich’s Castle Quarter. Celebrating the completion of his Taser training, Ribera shouted ‘police’ and ‘Taser’ while pretending to hold a device. He then assaulted a passerby, leading to a physical altercation. Ribera admitted to gross misconduct, expressing regret and embarrassment over his actions. The misconduct panel emphasized the need to maintain public confidence in policing and deter similar behavior among officers.
- https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25145158.police-officer-sacked-drunken-assault-castle-quarter/?ref=rss – PC Lee Ribera, an off-duty Norfolk police officer, was dismissed after a drunken incident in Norwich’s Castle Quarter. Celebrating the completion of his Taser training, Ribera shouted ‘police’ and ‘Taser’ while pretending to hold a device. He then assaulted a passerby, leading to a physical altercation. Ribera admitted to gross misconduct, expressing regret and embarrassment over his actions. The misconduct panel emphasized the need to maintain public confidence in policing and deter similar behavior among officers.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative appears to be recent due to the specific mention of a recent incident and the ongoing issue of misconduct within the Norfolk constabulary, supported by multiple current news sources.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quotes are attributed to PC Lee Ribera and Assistant Chief Constable Nicholas Davison, but the exact origin of these quotes is not independently verified beyond the article itself. However, the quotes are contextual and consistent with the narrative.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from reputable local news outlets such as EDP24 and BBC, which generally provide reliable information.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the officer’s misconduct and dismissal are plausible given the context of recent disciplinary issues within the Norfolk police force and the specific details of the incident.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative passes the checks due to its recent and plausible content, supported by reliable sources and specific details about the incident and its aftermath.
