Former police chief cleared of fraud by watchdog

A former chief constable who was sacked for lying about his military career has been cleared over fraud allegations by a police watchdog.

Nick Adderley, the former Northamptonshire Police chief constable, was under investigation over allegations relating to the maintenance of police vehicles during his time at Staffordshire Police.

He was one of two former Staffordshire Police officers, alongside two members of the public, who had been arrested in June 2023 and released under investigation.

A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the criminal investigation was ongoing and being carried out locally by the force.

The NN Journal first revealed the IOPC had found Mr Adderley had "no case to answer".

While the IOPC has not named Mr Adderley, the BBC previously obtained independent confirmation that he was one of two former Staffordshire officers served with misconduct papers and that he had been subsequently cleared of wrongdoing.

The IOPC concluded its investigation in December.

A spokesperson from the IOPC said: "It has been decided that the former officer has no case to answer. The investigation, carried out under the direction of the IOPC, also found no indication of criminality on the part of the still serving officer.

"Two former Staffordshire Police staff members and two members of the public were arrested in June 2023 as part of the same inquiries by the police force.

"The IOPC is now no longer directing the investigation which is ongoing and being carried out locally by the force."

Mr Adderley was confirmed at Northamptonshire's chief constable in July 2018 after he had served as an assistant chief constable in Staffordshire with responsibility for the county's uniformed local policing teams.

However, in June 2024, he was dismissed for gross misconduct when a panel upheld all allegations against him following a five-day gross misconduct hearing.

The panel heard that he had repeatedly lied and exaggerated his naval rank, length of service and achievements.

The IOPC then referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service arising from the misconduct proceedings, with a decision still pending.

The BBC has approached Mr Adderley for comment.

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