‘Jekyll and Hyde’ officer accused of bullying staff
CHIEF CONSTABLE FACES DISCIPLINARY HEARING AFTER HE IS CHARGED WITH GROSS MISCONDUCT
SUSPENDED Cheshire Police chief constable Simon Byrne has been charged with gross misconduct following accusations of bullying, repeatedly being late for work and being ‘volatile, unpredictable and offensive.’
The former deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester Police will face a nine-day disciplinary hearing later this year.
The top officer is accused of bullying people beneath him – particularly women – at Cheshire Police and at the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
A 21-page paper, published by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cheshire, outlines a series of allegations against Mr Byrne, who is alleged to have been ‘rude, overbearing and unreasonable.’
The ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ senior officer is accused of struggling to get into work early and of missing a series of meetings and events, resulting in first-class train fares and hotel rooms being cancelled, which he blamed on staff.
Mr Byrne is alleged to have ‘interfered’ in the arrest of a suspect because he wanted the collar for himself to win a competition among the nation’s most senior police officers.
He spent three hours dealing with the suspect after insisting on making the arrest, papers state.
Mr Byrne is said to have had ‘daily mood swings’ after failing to become GMP’s new chief constable in 2015 and is accused of ‘bullying behaviour’ towards an inspector.
In the charge against him, he is said to have ‘lacked self-control and exhibited volatile, unpredictable and offensive behaviour.’
Mr Byrne, who was suspended in August, faces a public disciplinary hearing at Warrington town hall, which begins on April 16.
He is accused of failing to attend 12 meetings and events, which are said to have cost the taxpayer more than £1,000 in rail tickets and hotel rooms which weren’t used.
He is also said to have ‘frequently had difficulty getting into the office early.’
Mr Bryne reportedly behaved in a way that was ‘belittling and intimidating’ and ‘vindictive’ towards his PA.
He told the M.E.N.: “There is a hearing due to take place in April 2018 and it would be inappropriate for me to comment now in detail.
“I continue to co-operate with the process and I welcome the opportunity to provide my account to the panel.”