Gross misconduct hearing

In accordance with Regulation 36 of the Police Conduct Regulations we are required to publish the following information –

An Accelerated Gross Misconduct disciplinary hearing, chaired by Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet, will be held by Northamptonshire Police at Force Headquarters next week on August 13, 2026.

A former police constable is the subject of the hearing.

It is alleged that the former officer concerned:

Breached the standard of professional behaviour in that she:  

• Discussed taking illegal drugs, including the Class A controlled drug cocaine in a positive way in May, September, October and December 2023.
• Took controlled drugs, including cocaine, in May, September and December 2023.
• On August 6, 2023 the former officer failed to attend for duty as required for a shift starting at 07:00hrs. At 13:49, she sent a message to her Sergeant saying that she had not attended because she had had to travel to Bristol for a family emergency, when in fact she had been drinking heavily on a night out.
• The message the former officer sent was untrue and was intended to mislead her Sergeant and Northamptonshire Police. She was granted compassionate leave to which she knew she was not entitled.
• On February 24, 2024 she was asked by a friend or acquaintance to conduct a PNC check into a vehicle. She conducted the check without a proper policing purpose and relayed information to the friend or acquaintance. 

The former officer’s conduct on February 24, was a criminal offence, and she was given a police caution on April 21, 2026 for an offence contrary to section 1 (1) and (3) of the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

The conduct, if proved, breaches the following Standards of professional behaviour:

• Discreditable Conduct
• Orders and Instructions
• Confidentiality and Honesty and Integrity

The hearing will take place in public.

Please note that if a request for attendance is received on the day of the hearing, there may be a delay in attendance being processed.

Members of the public, wishing to attend, must register by emailing [email protected] . 

The following details MUST be provided: full name, date of birth, gender and address.  Attendance will be given on a first come first serve basis.

The first 12 people emailing the Force will receive an email confirmation detailing the time and place of initial meeting point, and the expectation that identification will be provided on arrival.

If you are unsuccessful, you will not receive a response.

Home Office Guidance; Police Officer Misconduct Procedures 2015, states:

• Members of the public attending are expected to do so at their own expense.
• The person chairing the Hearing may impose conditions
• The Chair may exclude from the hearing any person whose behaviour, in their opinion, is likely to disrupt the orderly conduct of proceedings

Any members of the media wanting to attend must notify the Corporate Communications Team at Northamptonshire Police, in advance, by emailing [email protected]

Places for the media are limited so seats will be allocated on a first come-first serve basis

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Members of the public must register and produce valid identification
2. Media (and public) must not report on the evidence until all evidence has been given
3. Restrictions on reporting – taking photographs and the use of sound or film recording equipment during the hearing will be prohibited
4. The use of live, text based communications for purposes of simultaneous reporting of proceedings will be prohibited.
5. Third parties and witness reporting. Those at the hearing should not report names of third parties and witnesses not present at the hearing itself.
6. The public will be required to sign a declaration agreeing to the above restrictions.
7. Members of the press must be present by 9.45am