Saturday, 22 April 2023 12:42

By Nigel Slater, Local Democracy Reporter @NSlater_DT

A misconduct hearing centering on allegations a Derbyshire police officer made "offensive and discriminatory remarks" to a colleague is to be held in private.

Derbyshire police say the misconduct hearing will be held over five days between Monday 24 and Friday 28 April.

These sorts of hearings can be held in the public domain, with members of the public and media allowed to observe the proceedings.

However, Derbyshire police, in this instance, has announced that a decision has been made by the hearing’s independent legally qualified chair to hold the hearing in private. This is said to be because the hearing “involves hearing evidence about the private lives of those concerned” and due to “no member of the public [being] affected by the conduct complained of”.

No names of the officers involved in the hearing have been published. The hearing will be held at Derbyshire Constabulary’s headquarters in Ripley.

A full statement from legally qualified chair Jayne Salt reads: “A police conduct hearing is to be held concerning allegations of offensive and discriminatory remarks by an officer to a colleague. The exploration of the alleged conduct involves hearing evidence about the private lives of those concerned.

“No member of the public is said to have been affected by the conduct complained of. In the particular circumstances of this case, the general public interest in the conduct of police officers can be met by the assurance that this conduct is subject to the scrutiny of an independent disciplinary panel. Balancing those factors against the need for transparency, a decision has been made that the hearing should be held in private.”

A misconduct hearing takes place when Derbyshire police believe someone employed by the force has breached standards of professional behaviour.

At the hearing, the facts of the case are presented and the officer(s) involved will have the opportunity to explain their conduct and the circumstances surrounding the allegation before a decision is made by an independent panel.