Statement from chair Sam Dobbs on the dismissal of Chief Constable Nick Adderley

21 June 2024

By branch chair Sam Dobbs.

In October 2023, as spokesperson for our 1400 members in Northamptonshire Police Federation, I was asked to comment on the announcement that our Chief Constable had been suspended from duty pending outcome of an ongoing IOPC investigation. That investigation, during which Mr Adderley accepted some elements of the breaches of standards of professional behaviour against him and denied others, has been concluded.

The panel has found him guilty of gross misconduct and dismissed him. To say that I was shocked to hear the Chair's comments would be an understatement. They shocked me, and I know they will shock our members, too. I am glad that the Chair has reflected the integrity shown in most of our police officers while acknowledging the recovery that will be required from the ramifications of this case.

I attended the whole hearing, one of only three serving officers to do so. I wanted to hear evidence and accounts first-hand. I am grateful to the Acting Chief Constable for allowing the Police Federation to attend the gross misconduct hearing so that I could observe and now report back to members.

Judgement

Many members describe Mr Adderley as the best Chief Constable we have ever had and one whose leadership is unparalleled. Others feel let down and are frankly furious about the untruths and actions described. I have no doubt that the content of the judgement will only intensify those feelings.

I previously described the hearing process as being tough, lengthy and gruelling in the interests of integrity and accountability. It has been tough and gruelling for everyone. We have heard some very serious allegations - now substantiated - about the truthfulness and integrity of Mr Adderley in relation to matters going back to 2009 and prior to joining this Force, and many are staggered that these issues have taken until now to be discovered and scrutinised. However, there is no escaping the fact that all our members are held to high standards of honesty and integrity and can be dismissed for far less weighty misconduct.

Northamptonshire Police Federation chair, Sam Dobbs.

While accepting today’s judgement, I confess to feeling angry and frustrated myself that, having heard the ‘prosecution’ case, we have been denied hearing Mr Adderley’s account because of advice from his legal representatives, given the unprecedented decision to hear these matters prior to a CPS decision about whether there are criminal matters for him to answer. I would advise our members no differently in the same situation, but I am hugely frustrated not to have heard Mr Adderley under cross-examination.

Personally, I accept judgements against all officers with sadness and a heavy heart, in the context of the expectations held of all police colleagues, which are higher now than ever before. Breaches of Police Conduct Regulations and the Standards of Police Behaviour, in this case, have been articulately described and reported as being egregious. There is never a place in policing for lies when our whole raison d’etre is based on the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Trust and confidence

Today, we have lost a police officer, but that has to be balanced against maintaining the trust and confidence of the public.

Both our members and the public would be excused for feeling let down. As chair of Northamptonshire Police Federation, my priority remains the membership and the community. Members of the public must now be reassured that our members continue to do their best despite all the challenges we face and always set honesty and integrity at the heart of everything we do.

We will continue to work with the new Commissioner, along with the acting Chief Constable and his team to represent members and negotiate and influence decisions which affect them and their livelihood, safety and well-being.