The Chief Constable of Cheshire, Simon Byrne, has been suspended following an independent investigation into allegations of gross misconduct.
Mr Byrne previously served as Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police for two years.
Allegations surrounding the decorated officer’s conduct were made late last year, and an investigation into the claims was launched and managed by an outside police force.
Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane today issued a statement following the conclusion of the investigation, and said that ‘having carefully considered the evidence’, he had determined there was a case for gross misconduct and the matter would be refered to a hearing.
As a result, the decision was made to suspend Mr Byrne from post until this time.
Mr Keane said: “Following allegations made in late 2016 against Chief Constable Simon Byrne and following advice from the IPCC, a local investigation conducted by an external police force has been underway in accordance with the statutory police conduct regime.
“Following receipt of the Investigation Report, and having carefully considered the evidence, I have determined that there is a case to answer for gross misconduct with regards to Authority, Respect and Courtesy and Discreditable Conduct.
“This matter must now be referred to an independently chaired gross misconduct hearing.
“In light of this determination, I consider that the public interest requires that Mr Byrne be suspended pending the conclusion of the hearing.
“Deputy Chief Constable McCormick will be undertaking the role of Acting Chief Constable.
“I will not be making any further comment on the matter at this time in order to preserve the integrity of the on-going process.”
Chief Constable Byrne began his police career in 1982 in London with the Metropolitan Police. He transferred to Merseyside Police in 1985 and became an Assistant Chief Constable there in 2006.
In 2009 he transferred to GMP as Deputy Chief Constable before becoming Chief Constable of Cheshire in June 2014 following a spell back at the Met.
He was awarded the Queens Police Medal (QPM) in the 2016 New Year’s honours list and sits on the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, a body responsible for setting guidelines on sentencing in the courts.
