A police misconduct hearing takes place when it is believed a police officer has breached the standards of professional behaviour.

Police officer misconduct hearings are governed by legislation, which was most recently amended by The Police (Conduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which came into force on 7th May 2024.

Previously, since May 2015, a police misconduct hearing was heard by a panel which was led by a Legally Qualified Chair (‘LQC’). A panel would consist of three persons: the Chair (LQC), a police officer of the rank of Superintendent or above and an Independent Panel Member (‘IPM’).

A misconduct panel now consists of a Chair who will be a Chief Officer from the respective Force and two Independent Panel Members (IPMs). In addition, a Legally Qualified Person (‘LQP’) will support and advise the panel.

In the Northwest Region (i.e. Cheshire OPCC, Cumbria OPFCC, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Lancashire OPCC and Merseyside OPCC), a list of IPMs and LQPs are maintained and appointed to hearings on a rolling programme to maintain fairness and impartiality.

Further details in relation to the selection process of misconduct panels and Police Appeal Tribunals.

Nature of Cases

A police misconduct hearing is convened to hear allegations of misconduct by police officers. The facts will be heard by the panel, including where available witness testimony, and the panel will make a finding. The panel will decide whether the conduct of the police officer concerned amounts to misconduct, gross misconduct or neither and impose any disciplinary action as appropriate. If the panel decides that the conduct amounts to neither, the panel may direct the matter to be referred under the Reflective Practice Review Process or determine that no further action is taken.

If the officer is found to have committed misconduct, the available sanctions are:

• Written warning
• Final written warning
• Reduction in rank
• Dismissal without notice

If the officer is found to have committed gross misconduct, the available sanctions are:

• Final written warning
• Reduction in rank
• Dismissal without notice

The maximum sanction at this hearing would be dismissal from the police service without notice.

The Northwest Region recruited additional LQPs and IPMs following the introduction of the 2024 Regulations. For any details of recruitment for these roles in future, they will be advertised on each of the Northwest PCCs website vacancy pages.

Additional information about Police Misconduct Hearings in any of the five Forces within the Northwest Region, including details on upcoming hearings and the outcomes of previous hearings, are available via the relevant Force websites.

Information in relation to Police Misconduct Hearings within Cheshire is available via the Cheshire Constabulary website.