Former Cheshire Chief Constable Simon Byrne cleared of misconduct

Former Cheshire Police Constable Simon Byrne who was suspended over allegations of misconduct has been cleared of misconduct. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Allegations, which included claims of bullying, have been dismissed by an independent panel. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

David Keane, police and crime commissioner for Cheshire ordered an independent inquiry back in 2016 over claims surrounding Mr Byrne. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Byrne was suspended in August 2017 for gross misconduct with regards to Authority, Respect and Courtesy and Discreditable Conduct. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The  was referred to an independently chaired gross misconduct hearing. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

David Keane published the independent panel’s report today which found no allegations of misconduct or gross misconduct were proved against Mr Byrne. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

David Keane,  police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, said: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I have today published the independent panel’s report in relation to the misconduct proceedings regarding former Chief Constable Byrne. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The independent panel has stated in its report that the allegations against Mr Byrne are not proved and are therefore dismissed. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Multiple allegations were made against the former chief constable and the North Yorkshire Police investigation identified multiple cases of misconduct to answer.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

When faced with such allegations against the county’s Chief Constable, I believed I had no realistic alternative but to place the matter before an independent panel for determination of the facts. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Any other course would have been against my core values of fairness and openness, and I will not oversee a police service where such allegations aren’t taken seriously. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This process has been time-consuming and costly due the complexities of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Incidentally, the government, who set the regulations, has announced it is amending the process in which complaints against chief officers are dealt with. This is a sign that it recognises the current process needs changing. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The panel, in concluding their findings, did identify that chief constables in a case such as this would benefit from formal mentoring and that this type of support may, in future, prevent a similar situation leading to an investigation and misconduct hearing of this nature. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

I agree with this recommendation and will encourage the NPCC to take it forward.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“There will be a number of people who remain significantly affected and will need to be supported. I would ask that their feelings are respected.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Following the announcement by Mr Keane at Warrington Town Hall Simon Byrne saud: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I am very pleased to have been totally exonerated of any wrong doing. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In some ways it still feels like upside justice having lost my vocation after 35 years of public service. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It’s been a privilege to serve the residents of cheshire as their CC many of who have expressed their support personally for me.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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