North Yorkshire Police, in a notice published on their website, say that a Gross Misconduct Hearing will be held in respect of PC 658 Paul Orange, who is alleged to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviours in relation to Duties and Responsibilities: Authority, Respect and Courtesy; and Discreditable Conduct
A four day hearing, opening at 10am on 19th February, 2024 will take place at police HQ in Alverton Court, Northallerton.
It is alleged that PC 658 Paul Orange breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour by way of:
Allegation 1
On 24th May 2021, a North Yorkshire Police supervisor permitted you to leave duty to allow you to travel home and/or to look after your children following your wife becoming unable to do so. Thereafter, you failed to go home but instead attended another address, consumed alcohol, frustrated attempts by West Yorkshire and or North Yorkshire Police to locate you and failed to attend your next rostered tour of duty without notification.
Allegations 2 – 4
Between 2019 and 2021, you subjected your wife to abusive, inappropriate and/or threatening behaviour. Including physical assaults, damage to property, removal of personal property and monitoring of her movements.
Allegation 5
On 9th June 2021, you subjected, a North Yorkshire Police student officer, to aggressive, physical and verbal behaviours.
If found guilty of gross misconduct one of the sanctions available to the Panel hearing the allegations is dismissal without notice. The length of hearing indicates that PC Orange will contest the allegations and be legally represented.
Reporting restrictions may also be made at the discretion of the Legally Qualified Chair, Callum Cowx.
North Yorkshire Police has not named the other Panel members nor has it been explained why there has been such a lengthy delay in bringing these proceedings, whether PC Orange has remained on duty in the interim period, in what district or unit is he deployed and, most crucially, whether he has faced a criminal investigation over what are allegations that appear, taken at their face, to meet the evidential threshold.
As one of the most opaque police forces in England and Wales this information vacuum does little to promote confidence in the police disciplinary process.
Page last updated: Monday 12th February 2024 at 2355 hours
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