Federation welcomes decision not to pursue misconduct against newly qualified officers

4 November 2025

North Yorkshire Police Federation is pleased that the nine newly qualified officers alleged to have breached uniform policy at their graduation ceremony will not face a misconduct process.

These officers were served with misconduct notices following alleged breaches of dress and appearance policy during what should have been one of the proudest days of their careers - their graduation, which was attended by Chief Constable Tim Forber.

While we fully support the importance of maintaining high professional standards across policing, we felt that the action taken was disproportionate given the circumstances and should have been handled differently.

Conduct regulations are designed to promote a culture of learning and reflection, not to punish officers for what we believe were minor uniform matters. Sadly, this incident cast a shadow over what should have been a positive and memorable occasion for the officers involved and had a wider impact on the Force.

Throughout this difficult and distressing period, North Yorkshire Police Federation has stood firmly beside these officers and their families. We have worked tirelessly to support them, making representations on their behalf, engaging closely with the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), and exploring every available avenue to secure a just outcome.

We therefore welcome the constructive discussions we have had with the Chief Constable on this issue to ensure members’ voices were heard, to highlight the impact on the officers involved, and to work towards a fair and proportionate resolution.

We also welcome the thoughtful tone of those discussions, in particular, Mr Forber acknowledging that, with hindsight, a different ‘reflective’ path may have been taken. And, ultimately, we are pleased with the outcome that the officers will not face a misconduct process.

Please be assured that North Yorkshire Police Federation will always stand up for its members and ensure that they are treated fairly and with respect.

If you need support or advice, please contact your local Federation representative or the Federation office.