A TOP police officer who wore a fake Falklands War medals and lied about his military service has been found guilty of gross misconduct and sacked.
The Sun were the first to reveal how Northants Chief Constable Nick Adderley was under investigation for allegedly lying about his Royal Navy service.
At a misconduct hearing in Northampton, the panel, chaired by Callum Cowx, found all allegations against Mr Adderley proven.
He added they found “his audacity to be quite staggering”, and that he had lied over many years with “arrogant temerity”.
As a senior leader and role model, one of my main ambitions was to lead by example and to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, promoting all that is exemplary in British policing
Nick Adderley
The misconduct hearing was told how Adderley, “built military naval legend that wasn’t true”.
Adderley wore the South Atlantic Medal– awarded to Falklands veterans – at public events when he was not entitled to.
This was later confirmed to be “110%” fake by a Ministry of Defence medal expert.
He also displayed a Northern Ireland medal without having served in the Troubles.
The former Northants Chief Constable previously implied he had served in the Falklands War.
But the shamed police officer was just 15-years-old when the conflict broke out in 1982.
The Sun previously revealed the cop actually joined the Navy in 1984, two years after the war.
In his string of lies, Adderley claimed he served in the Royal Navy for 10 years – when he had served for only two.
I am proud of the work and progress made but feel bitterly disappointed in myself that I did not take more care or was more considerate when displaying my own medals alongside those handed to me
Nick Adderley
And, this is understood to have included his service with the Sea Cadets from the age of 10.
He actually spent six years as a civvy, including a stint as a pub landlord, before joining the police in 1992.
Adderley also lied on his CV and alleged he’d attended the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College for four years.
In reality, his application had been rejected.
Amid his plethora of delusions, Adderley also claimed to see active service during his naval career and said he’d been a military negotiator in Haiti – despite never visiting the country.
He said he had been a “commander or a lieutenant”, even though he only ever achieved the rank of able seaman.
The unprecedented nature of what has happened today should not reflect on the dedication and commitment shown by Northamptonshire Police officers and staff
Acting Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet
Adderley has been vilified by veterans and service personnel and condemned as a “Walt” – a slang term from the story of Walter Mitty for someone who fakes military service.
The latest developments come after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched a probe into the claims last year and handed their evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service.
During their investigations, the £162,411 a year Chief Constable was suspended on full pay.
A statement today from Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner said: “An independent panel decided that Chief Constable Nick Adderley had breached the standards of honesty and integrity and should be dismissed without notice and placed on the policing barred list.
“Northamptonshire Police will work hard to rebuild public trust and confidence after the dismissal of Nick Adderley, who has been found to have committed gross misconduct.”
Commissioner full statement
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone said:
“I respect the Panel’s decision and am grateful for their work on this challenging case, I wish it could have been dealt with more quickly for the sake of everyone involved, but the proper process had to be allowed to take its course. I accept the Panel’s decision that dismissal is the right sanction in this case.
“This case has put Northamptonshire Police in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. We now need to set out to restore a reputation for honesty and integrity, which are fundamental values.
“Police officers are held to very high standards and the expectation of police leaders is even higher – it is their duty to set the tone for the rest of the organisation.
“Failing to uphold these standards is incredibly serious and damaging to public confidence in our police officers who do excellent work, day after day, to keep the public safe.
“We will now work hard to rebuild that reputation for honesty and integrity and earn the confidence of the public.
“Acting Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet and his team have done a fantastic job in leading the Force through a period of uncertainty and I will work with them to engage with communities and build public confidence and trust in their police.”
IOPC Regional director Emily Barry said: “We have submitted an evidential report.
“It will be for the CPS to consider whether to bring any criminal charge.”
She said a referral “is made when the IOPC investigation indicates a criminal offence may have been committed”.
She added: “It does not mean criminal charges will necessarily follow.”
ADDERLEY’S STATEMENT IN FULL
Adderley’s statement was read out at the misconduct hearing by his barrister Matthew Holdcroft after the panel found him guilty.
“Today’s decision, by the disciplinary panel, brings to an end my career of over 32 years as a police officer,” he wrote.
“I have had the privilege of serving communities across Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire and it has been the greatest honour of my life to lead brave men and women of those forces, who every day and night came to work, never knowing what they may face, in order to keep us safe.
“For over three decades I have witnessed first hand the professionalism and dedication they apply and their unswerving bravery in the face of all that life brings, in the selfless pursuit of safer communities and protecting others.
“Sadly, I have also witnessed the impact and devastation when officers have paid the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives in the face of evil. Scars that run deep and which will never heal.”
He added how his “pride” in his force “has no bounds” and that he feels “forever grateful”.
Adderley thanked his colleagues for “inspiring” him and offered them “a heartfelt apology”.
“As a senior leader and role model, one of my main ambitions was to lead by example and to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, promoting all that is exemplary in British policing,” he continued.
Acting Chief Constable full statement
ACTING Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet said:
“My focus is squarely on leading a Force that earns the trust of the people it serves.
“I am absolutely determined to make sure our officers and staff live up to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. There is no place in policing for anything less. The unprecedented nature of what has happened today should not reflect on the dedication and commitment shown by Northamptonshire Police officers and staff.
“No police officer is above independent scrutiny of their actions and when someone falls short of the standards expected of them, they will be accountable.
“Policing is a challenging role and Northamptonshire Police is full of people who have dedicated themselves to keeping the public safe. I am determined to lead a Force that meets those challenges properly and fairly.”
“Today’s determination has shown that I have failed you in that regard, something that I deeply regret, a regret that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
The shamed Chief said he will be “cheering” his former team on from the sidelines.
And, he said “one of the most painful” things for him to accept was “the hurt caused to veterans of the armed forces”.
“This has been compounded, as I come from a very proud family of veterans,” he added.
Disgraced Adderley claimed he is a “staunch supporter of armed forces veterans” and that he “campaigned tirelessly in support of them”.
The former force leader admitted he is “bitterly disappointed” in himself for not taking more care over “displaying my own medals alongside those handed to me”.
“To those veterans I have offended, I apologise unreservedly,” he continued.
“Mark Twain once said ‘The two most important days in your life are the day you are you born and the day you find out why’.
“For me, I know that I was born to serve others, to protect and to offer reassurance and support to those less able to help themselves.
“My 32 years’ service has allowed me to do just that, and I feel incredibly lucky to have done so, but this has not all been plain sailing; I have made mistakes, I am human, and I am fallible and for those traits and mistakes I must take full responsibility, including the loss of a career that I cherished and lived for every day.
“Thank you to all of you who have been on this incredible journey with me.”
