Criminal investigation into fleet vehicle maintenance fraud

One former and one serving officer are being investigated in relation to alleged fraud linked to the maintenance of Staffordshire Police fleet vehicles.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) would not give any further details relating to its investigation or when it might be concluded.

Reports first emerged in March, however, linking the investigation to disgraced top cop Nick Adderley.

In its original press statement at the time, the IOPC said that two “serving officers” were under investigation in relation to vehicle maintenance fraud.

However, it has now confirmed to Fleet News that one of the two is no longer a serving officer.

Adderley was recently dismissed from his role as chief constable of Northamptonshire Police for gross misconduct in relation to a separate police disciplinary panel.

Adderley served as an assistant chief constable at Staffordshire Police from 2015 to 2018 before leaving the force to become chief constable at the Northamptonshire force.

He was dismissed without notice from Northamptonshire Police following an investigation by the IOPC into misrepresentation of his past naval service.

Based on the evidence presented, a police disciplinary panel overseen by an independent, legally qualified chair, found breaches of honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct leading to Adderley’s dismissal at the end of the proceedings.

It was confirmed that Adderley made several false claims concerning his service in the Royal Navy as part of his application to be Northamptonshire chief constable in 2018.

Adderley had also been photographed wearing an apparent South Atlantic Medal giving the false impression he had served in the Falklands, when he knew that to be untrue.

He failed to correct inaccurate media reporting of his record with the Royal Navy, a narrative in part based on Northamptonshire Police news releases.

The evidence also showed Adderley gave false information in a phone conversation with a senior member of staff at the Office for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner of Northamptonshire concerning his naval service.

Commenting on Adderley’s dismissal, IOPC regional director Emily Barry said: “Public confidence in policing needs chief constables to demonstrate the highest standards of conduct and set an example to their colleagues.

“The panel’s findings show that Mr Adderley’s conduct had fallen well below the professional standards of any police officer, never mind a chief constable.”

The IOPC said it carefully investigated a range of allegations against the chief constable of misrepresentation of his past naval service and in January recommended that he should face gross misconduct proceedings.

It said the evidence demonstrated a pattern of sustained misbehaviour where Adderley perpetuated a false narrative around his military service.

The IOPC could not comment on when a decision will be reached about whether criminal charges or conduct proceedings will necessarily follow in relation to the vehicle maintenance fraud investigation and two unnamed individuals.

A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “We can confirm that one police officer and one former police officer, who is no longer serving, have been told they are under criminal investigation as part of ongoing inquiries by Staffordshire Police into alleged fraud linked to the maintenance of police vehicles.

“Both have been served with notices telling them they are under criminal investigation and that their conduct is under investigation at the level of gross misconduct.

“Neither of them currently work for Staffordshire Police and both were suspended from their respective forces.

“Two Staffordshire Police staff members and two members of the public were arrested in June last year (2023) as part of the same inquiries. All were released under investigation.

“The police staff members are no longer employed by the force.”