Legally Qualified Chairs
Legally Qualified Chairs sit on Police Misconduct Hearing Panels, which are convened to hear allegations of serious cases of misconduct by police officers. The maximum outcome at this hearing would be dismissal from the police service without notice.
The Misconduct Hearing Panels consists of three persons: The Legally Qualified Chair, an Independent Member, and a police officer of the rank of Superintendent or above, appointed by the appropriate authority. The panel’s chair is selected from a list of persons appointed by the local policing body to conduct misconduct hearings for special constables and police officers.
Cases would include for example, allegations of criminal acts, serious road traffic matters such as drink/driving and other serious breaches of the standards of professional behaviour expected of police officers, such as neglect of duty.
Click on the drop downs below for answers to some commonly asked questions.
When hearing cases under Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, the Chair will be
expected to have read the papers in advance, and will be required to provide full
reason in writing for the Misconduct Hearing Panels decision before the end of 5
working days, after the day of the conclusions of the proceedings.
The role provides the PCC and Chief Constable with the assurance police misconduct hearings are held with transparency, independence, and that justice is correctly actioned. You will ensure procedural compliance with regulations and that hearings are conducted efficiently and effectively.
The Office of the PCC and Wiltshire Police are looking for individuals to apply who have:
- Experience of chairing meetings and ability to exercise control over proceedings;
- Experience of evaluating evidence, or information and making objective, unbiased, thoughtful decisions;
- Experience of report writing, writing deliberations or case notes;
- Excellent communication skills.
- Are able to demonstrate previous committee or judicial work or service on a Board or Council.
The appointment will be subject to satisfactory references. The PCC and Wiltshire Police value diversity and welcome applications from all our communities.
Candidates must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 5-year basis.
See the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007: Section 50-52
50: Judicial appointments: “judicial-appointment eligibility condition”
51: “Relevant qualification” in section 50: further provision
52: Meaning of “gain experience in law” in section 50
Misconduct cases are triggered by the officer receiving notice of misconduct proceedings. Although cases are unpredictable in nature and frequency, it is estimated a Chair should expect to deal with 2 - 4 cases per annum with the duration unknown.
It is a paper heavy process and so a commitment to authoring reports will be essential. Misconduct Hearing Panel Chairs are required to travel throughout Wiltshire and Swindon, and may, on occasion, be requested to chair hearings in other police forces.
The Appointment is for a term of 4 years which may be extended by agreement.
This is a voluntary role. However, fees and expenses are paid in accordance with the LQC handbook.
Fee:
- Full day i.e., sittings of more than 4 hours (excluding meal breaks) £511.56
- Half day i.e., sittings of 4 hours or less (excluding meal breaks) £255.78
- A fee may be claimed at the rate of £73.50 for each hour necessarily spent in preparatory work or report writing.
- The maximum preparation and report writing fee that can be claimed is £1050 for each Misconduct Hearing unless complex, when the amount is agreed in writing by the OPCC CEO.
- Travel and expenses as set out in the LQC handbook
If you are interested in this role, please email [email protected] requesting a recruitment pack.
Recruitment for these roles will be closed once we have filled the available vacancies therefore we encourage anyone interested to apply as soon as they can.