Cheshire police chief suspended over gross misconduct claims
Written by News on 24/08/2017
The chief constable of Cheshire Police has been suspended following an investigation into claims of gross misconduct.
The precise details of the allegations made against Simon Byrne in late 2016 have not been made public.
But Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane said that after examining a report on the investigation by another police force, he had concluded "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," he said in a statement.
"In light of this determination, I consider that the public interest requires that Mr Byrne be suspended pending the conclusion of the hearing."
He said he would not be commenting further on the matter, and added that Mr Byrne’s deputy, Janette McCormick, would take on the role of Acting Chief Constable of Cheshire Police.
Mr Byrne has been in charge at the force since June 2014, and said last year he would consider breaking the law to hire more officers from ethnic minorities to his constabulary.
He called for a change in legislation to implement a policy where "for every white officer, we recruit a black one".
Mr Byrne has previously served as an assistant commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester Police and assistant chief constable with Merseyside Police.
The 54-year-old married father of two was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal last year.
(c) Sky News 2017: Cheshire police chief suspended over gross misconduct claims
