Chief constable contempt ‘shocking’ says crime commissioner
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone says the chief constable being found guilty of contempt is shocking, but has dodged sacking question
By Sarah Ward
Northamptonshire’s police and crime commissioner Danielle Stone has said the chief constable being found guilty of contempt of court is shocking, but has not answered whether she will sack him.
The court of appeal handed down a judgement on Tuesday ruling that Northant’s serving chief constable Ivan Balhatchet is guilty of contempt of court after wrong statements were repeatedly made to a county court on his behalf.
Nadine Buzzard-Quashie, 42, of Ealing, London, was ‘vindicated’ by the appeal court judges after a four-year civil court battle to obtain all the video footage of her arrest by three Northants police officers.
She claims she was physically assaulted and thrown in nettles during the arrest, which court records show was related to her failing to stop the car she was driving on the A428 at Crick in September 2021.
She was charged but the case was later dropped by the crown prosecution service. However Northants police refused to hand over all of the body worn camera footage despite orders by the Information Commissioners Office and a county court.
Buzzard-Quashie fought the case alone until she was given pro bono legal support to mount the court of appeals case. Days before the hearing Northants Police and the chief constable admitted there was more footage and chief constable Balhatchet, who took over the job mid way through Buzzard-Quashie’s fight apologised.
Despite being found guilty of contempt of court Ivan Balhatchet has said he will not resign and the matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. When he came into the role he promised an improvement of police standards after the force took a huge reputational hit when his predecessor Nick Adderley was sacked for lying. (He has been charged with fraud and misconduct in public office and appeared in court this week).
Balhatchet’s boss is local labour politician Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone, who has the power to hire and fire. She was elected in May 2024 and said her priority was to rebuild trust in the force.
She told NN Journal in response to questions:
“This situation is shocking. I note that the Chief Constable has taken corporate responsibility and rightly made a full apology on behalf of the Force - but that does not make the Court’s judgement any less serious.
“I know this matter will have an impact on public confidence at a time when we are working hard to rebuild trust in Northamptonshire Police. The impact on the victim is also clear to me.
“Ahead of the sanction hearing at the Court of Appeal next week, I have made a voluntary referral of the matter to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC).
“I have written to the Force and asked them to make a rapid assessment of the actions of the other officers and staff involved in this case, to decide whether any other matters should be referred to the IOPC.
“I have also asked for a full report on how this was allowed to happen, and I expect clear assurance that it cannot happen again.
“I won’t comment further at this stage until I hear back from the IOPC, and until the Court has decided on any sanction.”
She did not answer the question about whether she will sack the chief constable.
The IOPC says the matter is with its assessment unit to determine next steps.
The court of appeal is due to decide the sentence on November 20. A fine or even imprisonment is possible.