The chief constable of Northamptonshire police will face an accelerated gross misconduct hearing after allegedly misrepresenting his military service, including wearing a medal from a war he did not fight in.
Nick Adderley, who served as police chief from August 2018 until he was suspended in October, has been accused of wearing a medal from the Falklands war – which took place when he was 15.
Questions have also been raised about his claims that he rose to the rank of commander in the navy, and that he had served 10 years in the military.
The claims were referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which said he should face an accelerated disciplinary hearing.
In a statement, the IOPC said its criminal investigation into Adderley was ongoing, and that once concluded it would decide “whether or not to refer a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider any potential offence”.
In July last year it emerged Adderley had worn a Falklands war medal despite only being 15 during the conflict, and had not joined the navy until 1984, two years after it ended.
At the time Adderley said the medal belonged to his brother, who had given it to him as a gift.
In a statement, he said: “It is disappointing that someone has leaked such details about what I deem to be a very personal family issue that I have yet to respond to formally.
“Coming from a military family, I wear all my medals with pride and have always worn the two medals my brothers gave me to wear when one became critically ill and one emigrated, alongside my own.”
He said that, following advice, he had changed the side of the chest on which he wore the medals. Royal British Legion guidance says: “The medals awarded to a deceased service/ex-service person may be worn on the right breast by a near relative.”
The NN Journal later reported that Adderley had claimed in his CV, read by the panel appointing him to his role in 2018, that he had served as a commander in the Royal Navy.
It has been frequently reported that Adderley served in the navy for a decade, including in a Northamptonshire police press release in February last year, which said he “served in the Royal Navy for 10 years including the Falklands war”.
It has since been claimed he only served two years in the navy.
After the allegations came to light, the chief constable was suspended in October while investigations were carried out, and an interim chief constable was installed.
A statement from the office of the county’s police, fire and crime commissioner, Stephen Mold, said: “The IOPC is carrying out an investigation and in a report has assessed, based on the evidence gathered to date, that there is a case to answer for gross misconduct. A hearing will now be convened at the earliest opportunity.
“I am now convening an independent panel to consider the allegations.”
Adderley became head of the Northamptonshire force in 2018 after joining the police service in 1992 and serving in Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Staffordshire.
He has previously made the news on several occasions for causing controversy with some of his social media statements.
Adderley has been approached for comment.
