Northamptonshire police chief faces disciplinary hearing over 'misrepresenting military service'

A chief constable investigated over claims he over-exaggerated his military service will face a disciplinary hearing on charges of gross misconduct.

The police watchdog examined claims that Northamptonshire chief constable Nick Adderley misrepresented his service and has decided he has a case to answer.

Complaints had been made about his decision to wear military medals relating to the Falklands War - at which time he would have been just 15.

The county's police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) suspended the chief constable with immediate effect while the matter was investigated.

On Wednesday, commissioner Stephen Mold said Mr Adderley would face an accelerated disciplinary hearing which would "be convened at the earliest opportunity".

The hearing will be carried out by an independent panel that will consist of a legally qualified chair (LQC), a representative of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and an independent panel member.

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold said: “I am grateful to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for the work it has carried out to date into the allegations against Chief Constable Nick Adderley. I am now convening an independent panel to consider the allegations.”

Mr Adderley had previously said the medals belonged to his brother and that he had since taken advice about the way in which he should wear them so as not to imply he had earned them himself.

Deputy Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet has been leading Northamptonshire Police since Mr Adderley's suspension.

The IOPC said it would wait until the end of its criminal investigation before deciding whether to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether crimes were committed.

The watchdog said: “We have sent a report relating to disciplinary matters to the police, fire and crime commissioner for Northamptonshire alongside our recommendation that the chief constable’s conduct should be considered at a misconduct hearing, for potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour, which could amount to gross misconduct.

“The standards identified are honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct.”

The statement added: “Our criminal investigation into allegations that the chief constable of Northamptonshire, Nick Adderley, has misrepresented his military service is ongoing.

“At the end of the investigation, we will decide whether or not to refer a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider any potential offence.”

In a statement issued last year, Mr Adderley said he had always worn his own medals alongside two medals his brothers gave him to wear when one became critically ill and one moved overseas.

As well as expressing disappointment at what said he were “leaked” details of a “very personal family issue”, the suspended police chief said he had changed the side of his chest on which he wore his brothers’ medals after seeking advice.

Mr Adderley took over as head of the Northamptonshire force in 2018 after joining the police service in 1992 and serving in Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Staffordshire.

He is reported to have been aged 15 during the Falklands War but has been pictured wearing the South Atlantic Medal at numerous events, including an awards ceremony hosted by his force in December 2022.

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