Pictured: Police officer convicted of assaulting his neighbour in row over parking exterior his residence – as he’s discovered responsible of gross misconduct
A police officer has been sacked after being found guilty of assaulting his neighbour over a parking dispute.
PC Daniel Traynor, 38, pushed Joshua Smith on November 29, 2024, after he returned to his home in east London to find a vehicle ‘blocking access to his property’.
A misconduct hearing in south London on Monday heard that Mr Smith then punched the officer and the pair ‘grappled and fell to the floor’, leading to the police being called to the address.
The hearing heard Mr Smith was hurt after falling backwards onto the ground.
PC Traynor was found guilty of assault by beating at Westminster Magistrates Court on November 12 – a decision he is now appealing.
He has now been dismissed for gross misconduct by Commander Andy Brittain, who found that his conduct was ‘wholly unbecoming of a police officer’.
In an impact statement, Mr Smith said the incident had a ‘big impact’ on his mental health and was ‘traumatic’ for himself, his partner and son.
He added that it was ‘terrifying’ a police officer would behave in such a way.
PC Traynor did not attend the hearing as he said he ‘was unfit to attend in any capacity whatsoever’ as per a medical note.
PC Daniel Traynor, 38, pushed Joshua Smith after he returned to his home in east London to find a vehicle ‘blocking access to his property’
PC Traynor was found guilty of assault by beating at Westminster Magistrates Court on November 12 – a decision he is now appealing
Jennie Oborne, representing the appropriate authority, told the hearing that PC Traynor had ‘made various inquiries’ to find the owner and driver of the vehicle on the date of the incident.
It was heard that after Mr Smith had come out of his property, the pair ‘engaged in a conversation that turned into a verbal argument’.
Mr Smith then approached PC Traynor’s property to speak with the officer’s partner, but there was no answer at the door.
After this, PC Traynor and his partner went to Mr Smith’s home, and when the neighbour answered, another argument ‘broke out’, leading to the fight.
Commander Brittain told the hearing that PC Traynor denies the allegation and ‘maintained that he acted in a reasonable self-defence and in defence of another’.
He added that the officer has lodged an appeal against his conviction.
Ms Oborne said the incident caused harm both to Mr Smith by virtue of the assault and to ‘public confidence in policing’.
‘The ability for a police officer to keep their temper even when provoked is, in my submission, of paramount importance in maintaining public confidence in policing,’ she added.
Commander Brittain found PC Traynor had committed gross misconduct and he was dismissed without notice.
He told the hearing that the officer’s actions where ‘deliberate’ and ‘targeted’ and that the officer could have ‘walked away’ but chose to stay and dispute a matter which became ‘increasingly heated’.
PC Traynor caused ‘reputational harm’ to the police force as well as his neighbour, Mr Smith, Brittain added.
He described the 38-year-old’s actions as ‘wholly unbecoming’ for a police officer and that it would undermine public trust and confidence in the police.
PC Traynor was found guilty of assault by beating at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 12, 2025.
He was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, to do 15 rehabiliation activity days as well as to pay £500 as well as £114 to Mr Smith.
He is set to appear at Snarebrook Crown Court on February 2 for his appeal.
