Almost £200,000 spent so far on chief constable's disciplinary
By Nadia Lincoln, local democracy reporter
The ongoing gross misconduct hearing into Northamptonshire’s suspended chief constable Nick Adderley has cost nearly £200,000, says the Office of the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC).
Last week the county’s top cop was put under scrutiny for allegations that he misrepresented and exaggerated his military service, including wearing a Falklands War medal despite being only 15 at the time of the conflict.
Chief constable Adderley denies misconduct and that he acted “without integrity and honesty”. He chose not to give evidence before the panel after taking legal advice from his solicitor in relation to criminal proceedings.
The hearing was originally due to take place over three days but overran onto a fourth before being adjourned to June 20.
A spokesman for the Office of Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner said:
“So far the misconduct hearing regarding Mr Adderley has cost almost £200,000.
“This includes the legal and management costs to date and the costs associated with arranging and holding the hearing. We will not know the total until after the process is over.”
The figure covers the cost of the counsel for the OPFCC, including experienced police barrister John Beggs KC who was in charge of setting out the allegations against Adderley.
The cost of the counsel defending the police chief is not footed by the taxpayer. Mr Adderley has remained on full pay since he was suspended in October last year, at £176,550 a-year.
On the last day of the hearing, Friday, May 31, Adderley’s defence counsel requested that the legally qualified Chair, Callum Cowx, recuse himself and his panel from overseeing the matters. Matthew Holdcroft, defending Adderley, claimed Mr Cowx had already formed a “concluded view” on the top cop’s honesty and integrity.
Mr Cowx said he would consider the defence’s application “very carefully”. If the recusal is accepted, the whole panel will be dismissed.
The hearing has been scheduled to continue later this month, on June 20. No arrangements for the venue have been confirmed as of yet.
Adderley’s wrongful medal wearing came to light last summer with an exclusive report by the Sun newspaper. Since then further discrepancies with his reported career history have come to light.
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Whose fault is it to let this court hearing get out of hand? I do not care about the excuses provided by the OPFCC. The whole cost will be charge to the tax payer.
Does it provide "Value for money " certainly not. The responsibility lies with the new Commissioner I.e Danielle Stone to take full responsibility for allowing all of this circus to happen. She is like a rabbit frozen in the headlights of a car. Stephen Mold, (the previous Commissioner) should have been called back into her office to explain what he did and why about the appointment of Adderley. Unfortunately, that office is filled with his political appointees and Danielle seems unable to do anything about that. Hence the escalating cost.
And if Adderley keeps delaying matters and bleeding public funds this figure will just increase. He might as well just go out and mug a pensioner at a cashpoint for the level of disrespect he is showing for public funds.
I foresee a Judicial Review on the horizon.