Police officers accused of gross misconduct over Riley murder probe
ACCUSATIONS THEY FAILED TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION
THREE West Yorkshire Police officers who investigated the death of three-year-old Riley Siswick in Huddersfield could lose their jobs after they were accused of gross misconduct.
The actions of detective chief inspector Mark Swift, detective inspector George Bardell and police constable Oliver Scoones will be analysed during a police misconduct hearing on May 18.
The officers have been accused of failing to conduct a thorough investigation and preparing an inadequate report for the coroner, after Riley was killed in Marsh, Huddersfield, in February 2016.
Detective inspector Bardell and detective chief inspector Swift have also been accused of failing to supervise an investigation appropriately.
Police constable Scoones will also face an allegation he attempted to influence a witness over the evidence they provided.
Riley died after cowardly killer Kyle Campbell hit him so hard that his bowel burst.
Campbell was jailed for life and Riley’s mum, Kayleigh Siswick, was locked up for seven years after the court heard she turned a blind eye to the attacks on the youngster and put her relationship before her son.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct investigated the actions of the officers over a 10-month period and concluded they had a case to answer for gross misconduct.
West Yorkshire Police disagreed and so the panel at the hearing in May will have to decide whether the officers’ actions amounted to gross misconduct.
If the officers are found guilty of gross misconduct then they could be sacked.
A misconduct hearing which examined the actions of the officers began in September 2019 and was adjourned until March 2020, but was then postponed because of the Covid-19 restrictions.