News / Crime
Gargan could face public misconduct hearing
The Avon and Somerset police chief could be forced to have his gross misconduct hearing take place in public, it emerged today.
Nick Gargan was suspended after allegations were made of inappropriate behaviour towards women.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating, has now said a consultation has begun to decide whether the case is heard in public.
The law allows for the IPCC to direct that a police misconduct hearing is held, wholly or partly, in public “when there are exceptional circumstances and it would be in the public interest to do so”.
Witnesses to the case, police and crime commissioner (PCC) Sue Mountstevens, Gargan himself, as well as others the IPCC deems to be “interested persons” will all be asked for their opinion.
Gargan was suspended in May after a probe led to the PCC making the decision that he had a case to answer over the allegations.
Gargan, who denies any wrongdoing, faces an internal charge over improper disclosure of information and is also being investigated after he gave names of officers facing criminal charges to a newspaper.
The consultation into the gross misconduct hearing will end on December 10.
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