Information

Request

“I require Freedom of Information pertaining to Stephen Mold and Adderley and how they concocted their lies!”

Response

The Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) has already answered a number of FOI requests relating to both Mr Adderley and Mr Mold.

Details of these can be found by using the following links:

https://northantspfcc.org.uk/foi-08112023-1-nick-adderley-complaints-logged-2023/

https://northantspfcc.org.uk/foi-04092024-1-nick-adderley-developed-vetting-checks/

https://northantspfcc.org.uk/foi-04032024-1-south-atlantic-medal-engraving/

https://northantspfcc.org.uk/foi-02072024-1-written-judgment-from-lqc-callum-cowx/

As you will see, there was also a report written and published by the Chairman of the Misconduct Hearing that was held into the allegation against Mr Adderley. I have attached a copy of this document to this email.

With regard to the appointment of Nick Adderley as Chief Constable, this process was overseen by an independent member and was subject to a public confirmation hearing by the local Police and Crime Panel. I have attached copies of all the reports that were publicly available and were discussed in a public meeting.

As the appropriate authority for complaints against the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police, the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) is responsible for dealing with any concerns relating to his conduct. All concerns must be dealt with in line with the Police Conduct Regulations 2020 which set out our responsibilities and the process which we must adhere to.

In relation to the former Chief Constable, Nick Adderley, I can confirm that the OPFCC completed a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding allegations that he had misrepresented his military service. The IOPC then determined that the matter should be retained by them for independent investigation. Upon conclusion of the independent investigation by the IOPC, a file was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the OPFCC commenced misconduct proceedings which ultimately resulted in the dismissal of Nick Adderley from Northamptonshire Police. The criminal proceedings against Nick Adderley remain live and are with the CPS. This is therefore not a matter that the OPFCC can intervene in or influence.

In line with the Police Conduct Regulations 2020, section 11, a police officer can only be suspended from duty with pay. There is no provision in law for suspension without pay. Please be reassured however that at all times the OPFCC were conscious that Nick Adderley remained in receipt of his salary whilst misconduct proceedings were live and worked hard to bring the proceedings to a conclusion as expeditiously as possible.

On the 30^th of November 2023, the OPFCC presented a report to the local Police, Fire and Crime Panel, setting out the background and arrangements for the appointment of an interim Chief Constable in the absence of Nick Adderley. As you will see from the report, the suspension of Mr Adderley was kept under review whilst the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) undertook its independent investigation into the allegations raised. I have attached a copy of this public report to this email.

In light of the findings of the Gross Misconduct Hearing against Mr Adderley, Northamptonshire Police undertook checks on the Chief Officer team and Chief Superintendent/staff equivalent ranks to ensure they all had the requisite qualifications and proof of them and commissioned a report designed to explore fully the failings around the vetting processes and pre-employment checks ahead of Mr Adderley’s appointment as Chief Constable in August 2018.

The report made a number of recommendations, including a tightening up and review of pre-employment qualification checks, dip sampling of vetting files and a requirement for detailed and comprehensive responses to HM Forces checks. Northamptonshire Police have also approached the Home Office to ensure enhanced information sharing and cross-checks takes place between the DV vetting carried out by the National Security Vetting Service and the MV vetting done at Force level.

A copy of the report is attached to this email and I have set out a summary of the failures around the appointment of Nick Adderley below:

• Pre-employment checks were not carried out to verify his degree, education, qualifications. (they were not needed for the role). The Force are carrying out those checks in the future, regardless, if people claim to have a degree.
• When he joined, he had Developed Vetting – (national level). We assumed this meant he also held MV (Management Vetting, Force level) from his previous Force. The Force did not check and further, they did not carry out their own MV.
• When he did MV in 2023 he gave different details to what he had given on his DV forms. A national lesson, we want the Home Office to consider some legal change to make DV and MV talk to each other seamlessly.
• When he did MV in 2023, he did not give the required details so that an HM Forces check could be carried out. The Force didn’t pick him up on that and didn’t carry out the check on his claimed service.
• The National Security Vetting Service had no records of his DV.
• We were unable to check a lot of details around his application because we did not keep anyone’s forms beyond 12 months.

The OPFCC is committed to being open and transparent, however if there is any further specific information you require, please let me know. It is important, however, to understand that within the Freedom of Information Act, there are a number of exemptions that allow organisations to withhold information from a requester. Some exemptions relate to a particular type of information, for instance, personal information. Other exemptions are based on the harm that would arise or would be likely arise from disclosure, for example, if disclosure would be likely to prejudice a criminal investigation.

Regulation 43 Final-Report CC Adderley

Vetting Review

Acting Chief Constable Report 30/11/2023