Barnes v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, is an important professional discipline case considering the power of the Chief Constable to discharge a probationary officer, notwithstanding misconduct proceedings relating to the same officer and the same concerns did not result in dismissal. Facts The claimant had told a racist joke to colleagues, which he knew […]
John Beggs KC and Aaron Rathmell appeared for the defendant Chief Constable in R (Victor) v Chief Constable of West Mercia Police [2023] EWHC 2119 (Admin). This is a topical and important case considering the distinct but overlapping roles of the vetting review procedure and misconduct proceedings in relation to probationary officers. Facts The facts were, briefly: off-duty […]
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the College of Policing, and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) have published their findings following a comprehensive investigation into the serious concerns raised in a police super-complaint submitted by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust on behalf of the National Stalking Consortium in 2022. […]
This note is intended to assist Appropriate Authorities (“AAs”), Professional Standards Departments (“PSDs”) and hearings units to progress misconduct proceedings[1] under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012 and 2020 (“PCR”), during the outbreak of COVID-19. We suggest that AAs should try to proceed with hearings by video and/or telephone where possible, and we explore the practical […]
For those wishing to exercise their exercise rights, the new Coronavirus regulations treat English and Welsh joggers rather differently. Regulation 6 of The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 states that, “During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.” A reasonable excuse includes, under Reg.6(2), […]