On 5th January 2023 at 10.00am at a West Yorkshire Police venue yet to be confirmed – a misconduct hearing under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 will take place in relation to PC 405 Craig Gallant.
It is alleged that PC Gallant (pictured above with Halifax MP Holly Lynch) has breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour for police officers, specifically the standards of:
1. Authority, Respect and Courtesy; and
2. Discreditable Conduct.
It is alleged that on 1st October 2021, whilst off-duty, PC Gallant was abusive and aggressive towards a police officer colleague, assaulting him and causing damage to his vehicle and clothing, resulting, on 19th January 2022, in PC Gallant being issued with a conditional caution for the offences of assault contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, and criminal damage contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
It is contended by WYP that (if proven) the allegations amount to gross misconduct.
The force has not said whether PC Gallant has remained operational since the incident.
In November, 2016 PC Gallant, a Calderdale District officer, appeared at the House of Commons, along with Miss Lynch, at a Police Federation event highlighting the number of assaults on police officers.
Miss Lynch’s constituency office and the Police Federation of West Yorkshire will be asked to comment once the misconduct proceedings are concluded.
The chief constable will also be asked why it has taken almost a year after a caution was accepted to arrange a misconduct hearing.
Home Office guidance indicates that “it is entirely unacceptable for police officers, who are responsible for enforcing the law, to break the law themselves” and that offences of dishonesty, sexual offences and violent crime are particularly serious and likely to terminate an officer’s career since such offending involves such a fundamental breach of the public’s trust in police officers and inevitably brings the profession into disrepute.
Closing date for applications to attend is 4pm on 3rd January 2023 (form can be viewed here).
Page last updated Thursday 29th December, 2022 at 0835hrs
Thank you for reading and a polite request: If you wish to make a contribution to the running costs of this website it would be very much appreciated. Donations can made securely, via PayPal, at this link.
Corrections: Please let me know if there is a mistake in this article. I will endeavour to correct it as soon as possible.
Picture credits: WYP
Right of reply: If you are mentioned in this article and disagree with it, please let me have your comments. Provided your response is not defamatory it will be added to the article.
© Neil Wilby 2015-2022. Unauthorised use, or reproduction, of the material contained in this article, without permission from the author, is strictly prohibited. Extracts from, and links to, the article (or blog) may be used, provided that credit is given to Neil Wilby Media, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Neil Wilby Media 