Northumbria Police demands the highest standards of professionalism, honesty and integrity from its officers and staff. Where those standards are not met, consideration may be given to instigating misconduct proceedings. We are committed to transparency and accountability. As such we will publish the outcomes of misconduct meetings, misconduct hearings and also those who resign prior to the conclusion of misconduct proceedings (where it is established that there was a case to answer).
Misconduct FAQs
Where an officer/member of staff faces allegations of gross misconduct they would attend a misconduct hearing. If they are found to have breached the relevant standards of professional behaviour they may be dismissed.
Where the officer/member of staff faces allegations of misconduct they would attend a misconduct meeting. If they are found to have breached the relevant standards of professional behaviour the maximum penalty would be a final written warning.
If you wish to attend, you must book your place in advance by sending an e-mail to publichearings@northumbria.pnn.police.uk in order to register your interest. In the e-mail you must provide:
- Your full name
- Date of birth
- Home address
- The date of the hearing you wish to attend
- The name of the person involved.
Any interested members of the media must also register attendance as outlined above. Media enquiries should be directed to the Media Relations Team at Police Headquarters.
Successful observers will receive a return email which will include information what to do next.
The hearing allows for 10 observers to attend, allocation will be on a first come basis. If you have any accessibility requirements, please let us know in your e-mail so we can ensure your needs are met.
Upon attending the location of the hearing, you will be required to present photographic identification, for example a driving licence or passport.
You will not be allowed admittance unless you have pre-registered. We reserve the right to restrict entry.
No filming, audio recording or taking of photographs of the proceedings is permitted.
Water will be provided during the hearing.
NOTICE OF MISCONDUCT HEARING TO BE HELD IN PUBLIC
Duration:
Three Days
Dates & times:
Monday 25th – Wednesday 27th September 2023
10:00am – 4:00pm
Officer:
Sgt 8999 Wayne Wright
Location:
Old Magistrates Court
Houghton Police Station
Dairy Lane
Houghton Le Spring
DH4 5BL
In relation to:
The alleged conduct (in summary):
- Between November 2019 and December 2021 Sergeant Wright frequently made inappropriate and/or embarrassing and/or degrading and/or humiliating and/or offensive comments to a colleague, namely PC A. The comments were often sexual in nature.
- On or around August 2020, whilst on duty, Sergeant Wright approached PC A from behind and slapped PC A on the bottom with his hand and shouted “Woo”.
- On or around November/December 2020 and whilst on duty, Sergeant Wright came behind PC A and made loud and overtly sexual noises. Sergeant Wright was carrying a hand sanitiser at the time and used the same to simulate a sexual act in the presence of and directed towards to PC A.
It is alleged that the officer’s conduct breaches the Standards of Professional Behaviour contained in Schedule 2 of Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, in particular:
- Authority, Respect and Courtesy
- Discreditable Conduct
And amounts to Gross Misconduct
Closing date to register interest in attending: 12:00 noon - Friday 22nd September 2023
Further information: Under Police (Conduct) Regulations, this hearing will be held in public.
The Panel Chair has directed that there must be no publication or reporting of any information that may lead to the identification of PC A in the misconduct proceedings.
Members of the press and the public must adhere to the reporting restrictions and any directions and/or restrictions imposed by the person chairing the misconduct hearing in advance and/or during the misconduct hearing. There should be no recording of the proceedings other than the official recording.
NOTICE OF MISCONDUCT HEARING TO BE HELD IN PUBLIC
Duration:
Three Days
Dates & times:
Wednesday 4th – Friday 6th October 2023
10:00am – 4:00pm
Officer:
PC 8281 Robert Dobson
Location:
Old Magistrates Court
Houghton Police Station
Dairy Lane
Houghton Le Spring
DH4 5BL
In relation to the allegations:
- PC Dobson sent a high volume of personal communications to Miss A, an employee of Northumbria County Council with whom he had a professional relationship. Those messages were sent without a policing purpose and included PC Dobson asking Miss A for nude photographs of herself and he calling her ‘frigid’ when she refused to provide them.
- It is alleged that PC Dobson sent Miss A communications which were misogynistic and disrespectful to women.
- It is alleged that PC Dobson repeatedly sent personal communications to Miss B, an employee of Northumbria County Council, with whom he had a professional relationship. Thereafter, PC Dobson met with Miss B and on one occasion, engaged in consensual sexual intercourse with her.
- It is alleged that in October 2019, PC Dobson accessed the police record of Miss B without a proper policing purpose.
- It is alleged that in February 2021, PC Dobson accessed the police record of Miss C without a proper policing purpose.
It is alleged that the officer’s conduct breaches the Standards of Professional Behaviour contained in Schedule 2 of Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, in particular:
- Authority, Respect and Courtesy
- Confidentiality
And amounts to Gross Misconduct
Closing date to register interest in attending: 12:00 noon – Tuesday 3rd October 2023
Further information Under Police (Conduct) Regulations, this hearing will be held in public.
Members of the press and the public must adhere to the reporting restrictions and any directions and/or restrictions imposed by the person chairing the misconduct hearing in advance and/or during the misconduct hearing. There should be no recording of the proceedings other than the official recording.
