A Thames Valley Police misconduct hearing is to take place entirely behind closed doors, with the force publishing no details of the allegations, the officer’s identity or even their rank.
The hearing is due to begin on Monday, 21 September and will be chaired by Chief Constable Jason Hogg.
In its public notice, Thames Valley Police says the Chair has directed that the hearing will be held in private, with no public attendance and no reporting.
However, the notice gives no reason for imposing those restrictions.
It also provides no information about the conduct alleged against the officer, which Standards of Professional Behaviour are said to have been breached, or the officer’s rank.
Despite the lack of information, media organisations have been invited to make representations concerning the restrictions.
That has prompted Misconduct999 to question how journalists can make meaningful representations about whether such extensive restrictions are necessary when they have not been told why they are being imposed.
The notice also contains an apparent tension in its wording.
Thames Valley Police states that the Chair “has directed” that the hearing will take place in private, with no public attendance and no reporting, while also inviting media representatives to make submissions on those restrictions.
Misconduct999 has therefore asked the force to clarify whether the direction has already been made or whether it remains open to reconsideration after media representations have been received.
We have also asked Thames Valley Police to provide, before the deadline for representations, the officer’s rank, a basic outline of the allegations, the Standards of Professional Behaviour involved and the broad reason for holding the entire hearing in private and prohibiting reporting.
The case comes as Misconduct999 conducts wider scrutiny of transparency surrounding police misconduct proceedings, including the information forces publish in hearing notices, decisions to exclude the public and media, and the use of anonymity and reporting restrictions.
Misconduct999 has not suggested that there can never be legitimate grounds for holding all or part of a misconduct hearing in private.
The issue in this case is more fundamental: journalists have been invited to make representations about restrictions without being told the basis on which those restrictions are considered necessary.
Misconduct999 has asked Thames Valley Police to ensure its media representations are put before Chief Constable Jason Hogg for consideration.
Misconduct999 will report the force’s response and any further decision concerning the restrictions.
