How We help - Misconduct
What is the difference between a misconduct meeting and a misconduct hearing?
There are two types of misconduct proceedings:Misconduct Meeting - for cases where there is a case to answer in respect of misconduct and where the maximum outcome would be a final written warning. These are normally chaired by an officer of the rank of Chief Inspector.
Misconduct Hearing - for cases where there is a case to answer in respect of gross misconduct or where the police officer has a live final written warning and there is a case to answer in respect of a further act of misconduct. The maximum outcome at this hearing would be dismissal from the police service without notice.
From 1 May 2015, the default position for misconduct hearings is that they are held in public. A notice advertising a hearing must be published by the Force on its website at least five working days before the day on which the hearing is to take place. The advert will name the officer subject of the hearing, and will mention the subject matter of the investigation, unless such disclosure is deemed inappropriate. Representations can be submitted for anonymity and also for the hearing to be heard in private but this decision is for the chair on representations by your representative or legal representative prior to the hearing.
Since January 2016 all hearings are chaired by a pool of legally qualified independent barristers. The panel will be completed by a senior officer from the force usually of the rank of Supt or Ch Supt and an independent member again selected from a pool normally with experience is this field of discipline outside of the organisation.
