Professional Standards Department

Misconduct Investigations and Outcomes January to March2017

Northamptonshire Police currently comprises 1203 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Police Officers, 89 FTE Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), 769 Other Members of Police Staff, together with a further 477Special Constables; a total of2537 FTE individuals.

During thefourth quarter of the year 2016/17, the Force dealt with 47,247 reported incidents and investigated 13,895 crimes which led to 2661 arrests.

During this period the Professional Standards Department (PSD) recorded a total of 126 new Complaint cases (public complaints) and 12 new Misconduct cases (internal matters).

During this period PSD formally investigated and finalised a total of 14cases of Misconduct,involving18 Police Officers,1 Special Constable and 4members of Police Staff (NB: some of these matters may have been recorded in previous reporting period):

  • 2 cases resulted in a finding of no case to answer.
  • 5 cases resulted in a case to answer for which Management Action was the outcome.
  • 3 cases resulted in a case to answer for Misconduct (1); 2 Police Officers attended a Misconduct Meeting and 1 Police Officer resigned before the Misconduct investigation was completed.
  • 4 caseswere assessed as amounting to Gross Misconduct (2);1 Police Staff member went to a Gross Misconduct Hearing, and 2 Police Officers appeared before a Special Case Gross Misconduct Hearings. One of these officers had two cases recorded against them.(3)

(1) Misconduct is defined as a Breach of Standards of Professional Behaviour as described in Schedule 2 to the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012.

(2) Gross Misconduct is defined as a Breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour so serious that if either admitted or proven, dismissal from the Police Service would be justified. These matters are heard at a Misconduct Hearing.

(3) Note that where Officers or Members of Police Staff are dismissed as a result of misconduct proceedings or who resign or retire during the course of misconduct proceedings, appropriate vetting records are maintained and can and will be disclosed in the event such an Officer or Member of Staff seeks employment with another Law Enforcement Agency.

During this period PSD had cause to arrange additional disciplinary proceedings under the Police Reform Act, in respect of Complaint cases being finalised:

  • 0 cases resulted in a case to answer for Misconduct (1)
  • 1case resulted in a case to answer for Gross Misconduct (2). 1 Police Officer was referred to a Gross Misconduct Hearing.

Misconduct Meeting Outcomes during this period:

Date / Breach of Standards / Outcome
January 2017 / It was alleged that a Police Constable, whilst off duty instigated a physical altercation with a member of the public. It was also alleged that the police officer identified himself as a Police Constable during the altercation. This allegation amounted to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour for Discreditable Conduct. / Proven
Outcome:
Written Warning
February 2017 / It was alleged that a Police Constable took an image of a police incident report and forwarded it to a social media site which was a public site accessible to the general public. These allegations amounted to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour for Orders and Instructions and Discreditable Conduct. / Proven
Outcome:
Management Advice

Misconduct Hearing Outcomes during this period:

Date / Breach of Standards / Outcome
March 2017 / It was alleged that a police staff member was arrested for being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle and was subsequently prosecuted for the offence. It was further alleged that the police staff member was arrested on another date for failing to provide a specimen of breath. These allegations amounted to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour for Discreditable Conduct. / Proven
Outcome:
Dismissal without notice

Special Case Hearing Outcomes during this period (chaired by the Chief Constable):

Date / Breach of Standards / Outcome
January 2017
PC 1559 Tilley
Public Hearing / It was alleged that a Police Constable, whilst off duty, failed to purchase a valid train ticket and when challenged by the Train Inspector, deliberately provided a misleading or dishonest response. This allegation breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour for Honesty and Integrity, and Discreditable Conduct. / Proven
Outcome:
Dismissal without notice
January 2017
PS1315 Caffel
Public Hearing / It was alleged that a Police Sergeant made inappropriate and derogatory comments to female colleagues and female members of the public. It was further alleged that the Police Sergeant engaged in a relationship with a vulnerable female. These allegations amounted to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour for Authority, Respect and Courtesy, Equality and Diversity, Orders and Instructions and Discreditable Conduct. / Proven
Outcome:
Dismissal without notice
February 2017
PC 309 Pettinger
Public Complaint Case
Public Hearing / It was alleged that a Police Constable, whilst on duty dealt with a victim of a domestic incident. After a period of time the officer formed an inappropriate relationship with this person and visited the person whilst on duty. These allegations amounted to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour for Honesty and integrity, Authority respect and courtesy, Confidentiality and Discreditable conduct. / Proven
Outcome:
Dismissal without notice

Other Outcomes during this period:

Date / Breach of Standards / Outcome