Medals probe into top cop complete
AFORMER Greater Manchester Police chief ‘may have committed a criminal offence’ over his wearing of military medals, a watchdog has said.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it has now completed an investigation into allegations Nick Adderley, the suspended Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police, misrepresented his military service.
The police watchdog said it has referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service as a result. A statement said a referral to the CPS is made when an investigation ‘indicates that a criminal offence may have been committed’.
It doesn’t mean any criminal charges will follow. The CPS will now decide whether any criminal charges will be brought in line with its code.
Mr Adderley, 57, was the head of GMP’S Tameside division when Dale Cregan murdered PCS Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes while on the run after killing a father and son.
He was suspended from his position as Chief Constable of Northamptonshire last October and is also facing accelerated gross misconduct proceedings. A three-day hearing will be held next month.
Mr Adderley has served in the Royal Navy, but is alleged to have misrepresented his past by wearing a Falklands War campaign medal.
In a statement, the IOPC said: “We have completed our criminal investigation into allegations that the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire,
Nick Adderley, has misrepresented his military service, and have referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).”
The IOPC’S Regional Director, Emily Barry, said: “Following careful investigation, we have now submitted an evidential report to the Crown Prosecution Service. It will be for the CPS to consider whether to bring any criminal charge.
“A referral to the CPS is made when the IOPC investigation indicates that a criminal offence may have been committed. It does not mean that criminal charges will necessarily follow. The CPS will decide whether charges should be brought, based on the test set out in the code for crown prosecutors.”
In a statement responding to the allegations at the time, Mr Adderley said he had always worn his own naval medals alongside two medals his brothers gave him to wear when one became critically ill and one moved overseas.
As well as expressing disappointment at what he said were ‘leaked’ details of a ‘very personal family issue’, Mr Adderley said he had changed the side of his chest on which he wore his brothers’ medals after seeking advice.
Mr Adderley took over as head of the Northamptonshire force in 2018 after joining the police service in 1992 and serving in Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Staffordshire.
It does not mean that criminal charges will necessarily follow