A chief constable has been placed under criminal investigation and suspended over claims that he wore a military medal from the Falklands campaign despite not having fought in it.
Nick Adderley, the chief constable of Northamptonshire police, is under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which will examine whether the offences of misconduct in public office and fraud by false representation may have been committed.
Adderley, now 57, and 15 at the time of the Falklands conflict in 1982, had been pictured wearing a medal given to those who served during the conflict. He explained that the medal belonged to his brother, who had served in the war.
It is understood that IOPC investigators are examining whether other references were made to Adderley having served in the Falklands conflict, with his knowledge.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “The Independent Office for Police Conduct is criminally investigating the chief constable of Northamptonshire over allegations that he has potentially misrepresented his military service, both in public and in communications with the police, fire and crime commissioner.
“We have advised the chief constable in a criminal letter that we are examining possible offences of misconduct in public office and fraud by false representation.
“After reviewing information gathered so far as part of our investigation, we have also served a gross misconduct notice on the chief constable for potential breaches of police professional standards relating to honesty and integrity, orders and instructions and conduct.”
Stephen Mold, the Northamptonshire police, fire and crime commissioner, made the decision to suspend Adderley as chief constable. His office said: “A complaint from a member of the public concerning the conduct of chief constable Nick Adderley and centred around his military service was received.”
Northamptonshire’s deputy chief constable, Ivan Balhatchet, will lead the force of 1,500 officers, while Adderley’s suspension is kept under review.
Adderley is the second chief constable of the 43 local forces in England and Wales to have recently been suspended. The other is Will Kerr, chief of the Devon and Cornwall force.
Adderley became chief of the Midlands force in August 2018, and in April 2023 returned as chief constable and a £165,000 annual salary after a short break between contracts. Before policing, he served in the Royal Navy.
Military protocol allows someone to wear military medals they have not themselves won but they must be worn on a different side of the chest from any medals they have earned.
After the allegations surfaced in September, Adderley said: “Coming from a military family, I wear all my medals with pride and have always worn the two medals my brothers gave me to wear when one became critically ill and one emigrated, alongside my own.
“Having been made aware of this complaint, which has a private family impact upon me personally, I immediately took advice last week regarding the protocol and have changed the side of my chest on which these medals are worn.”
