Neil Wilby Media

Northamptonshire Police has issued the following statements in the past hour following the dismissal without notice of its chief constable, suspended on full pay since October, 2023:

“[We] will work hard to rebuild public trust and confidence after the dismissal of Chief Constable Nick Adderley, who has been found to have committed gross misconduct.

“This morning (Friday 21st June, 2024), an independent panel decided that Chief Constable Nick Adderley had breached the standards of honesty and integrity and should be dismissed without notice and placed on the policing barred list.

“Mr Adderley now has 10 days should he wish to appeal.

“Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone and Acting Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet said that while this unprecedented situation put Northamptonshire Police in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, they share a determination to move the Force forward.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone said:

“I respect the Panel’s decision and am grateful for their work on this challenging case, I wish it could have been dealt with more quickly for the sake of everyone involved, but the proper process had to be allowed to take its course. I accept the Panel’s decision that dismissal is the right sanction in this case.

“This case has put Northamptonshire Police in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. We now need to set out to restore a reputation for honesty and integrity, which are fundamental values.

“Police officers are held to very high standards and the expectation of police leaders is even higher – it is their duty to set the tone for the rest of the organisation.

“Failing to uphold these standards is incredibly serious and damaging to public confidence in our police officers who do excellent work, day after day, to keep the public safe.

“We will now work hard to rebuild that reputation for honesty and integrity and earn the confidence of the public.

“Acting Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet and his team have done a fantastic job in leading the Force through a period of uncertainty and I will work with them to engage with communities and build public confidence and trust in their police.”

Acting Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet said: “My focus is squarely on leading a Force that earns the trust of the people it serves.

“I am absolutely determined to make sure our officers and staff live up to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. There is no place in policing for anything less. The unprecedented nature of what has happened today should not reflect on the dedication and commitment shown by Northamptonshire Police officers and staff.

“No police officer is above independent scrutiny of their actions and when someone falls short of the standards expected of them, they will be accountable.

“Policing is a challenging role and Northamptonshire Police is full of people who have dedicated themselves to keeping the public safe. I am determined to lead a Force that meets those challenges properly and fairly.”

Independent Office for Police Conduct Regional Director, Emily Barry, said:

“Public confidence in policing needs chief constables to demonstrate the highest standards of conduct and set an example to their colleagues. The Panel’s findings show that Mr Adderley’s conduct had fallen well below the professional standards of any police officer, never mind a chief constable.”

“We carefully investigated a range of allegations against the chief constable of misrepresentation of his past naval service and in January recommended that he should face gross misconduct proceedings. We compiled the substantive and significant evidence which has informed the disciplinary hearing.

“That evidence demonstrated a pattern of sustained misbehaviour where Mr Adderley perpetuated a false narrative around his military service.”

Nick Adderley, who did not attend the misconduct hearing yesterday or today, despite being directed by, Callum Cowx, the Legally Qualified Chair of the Panel, to do so, has released this statement: 

“Today’s decision, by the disciplinary panel, brings to an end my career of over 32 years as a police officer.

“I have had the privilege of serving communities across Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire and it has been the greatest honour of my life to lead brave men and women of those forces.

“The pride I have in those I have led has no bounds, and I will be forever grateful to them for the difference they have made to the lives of so many, and for the difference they have made to my life too.

“As a senior leader and role model, one of my main ambitions was to lead by example and to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. Today’s determination has shown that I have failed you in that regard, something that I deeply regret.

“One of the most painful aspects of this case is the hurt that I have caused to veterans of the armed forces. I am proud of the work and progress made but feel bitterly disappointed in myself that I did not take more care or was more considerate when displaying my own medals alongside those handed to me.

“To those veterans I have offended, I apologise unreservedly.”

The LQC concluded the Panel’s findings with this words:

“Lying [by Nick Adderley] became ingrained and he continued to do so with arrogant temerity,” 

He added: “Alarm bells should have rung, but they did not because the [vetting] checks were clearly not done. Here we have someone who slipped under the radar to take up a senior position in the police service, having very obviously lied to get the job.”

The National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Chief Police Officers’ Association have each been asked for a statement.

A serving Northants police officer has spoken to Kate Cronin at the Northants Telegraph about today’s outcome. He said staff are ‘furious’ and that Adderley’s actions, and those of PCC Stephen Mold before him, make their job much more difficult because public trust in the police is ‘so badly damaged’.

The officer added that Adderley’s conduct at the hearing has been ‘insulting’ to both servicemen and police officers.

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Page last updated: Saturday 22nd June, 2024 at 0845 hours

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