Dorset Police officer Alex Ayre dies after being hit by train

Dorset Police officer Alex Ayre, 24, has died after being hit by a train near Branksome on Friday, September 25. The British Transport Police are leading the investigation and have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Prior to the incident, PC Ayre had been suspended from duty pending a gross misconduct investigation regarding his behavior while off-duty. Dorset Police Chief Constable Rachel Farrell noted that the investigation into the misconduct was in its very early stages and emphasized that suspension is not a presumption of wrongdoing.

Dorset Police has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for a transparent review of how the case was handled. Ayre, who joined the force in June 2022 and worked in response policing in the Boscombe and Bournemouth area, was remembered by his family as a deeply loved son, brother, and friend.