Date set for Gloucestershire Chief Constable conduct hearing amid concerns over cost and delays
Chief Constable Hansen, who firmly denies any wrongdoing, was first suspended by Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson in October 2024
A hearing into Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Chief Constable Rod Hansen gross misconduct case will take place in July amid concerns over delays and cost as taxpayers have been paying for two chief constables for almost 18 months.
Chief Constable Hansen, who firmly denies any wrongdoing, was first suspended by Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson in October 2024 for allegations relating to a data breach that occurred in 2022.
It is alleged the Chief Constable did not sufficiently act on information passed to him in October that year regarding a staff member suspected of carrying out an unauthorised search of police systems – and accessing third party personal data – in relation to a road traffic collision.
Earlier this month, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) informed the Chief Constable that he has no case to answer in regards to a separate case.
The initial suspension was challenged and later lifted by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Chris Nelson and arrangements were made for the Chief Constable’s redeployment to the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
As a result of this decision, the Chief Constable began work on the Joint Police Reform programme in January 2025.
However, a second misconduct investigation was triggered in relation to allegations that the Chief Constable inappropriately involved himself in the recruitment of a member of police staff and, consequently, in May 2025, Chief Constable Hansen was suspended again by PCC Nelson.
The IOPC has since reported back on this second investigation and determined he has no case to answer.
And, it was reported earlier this month, that the Chief Constable’s legal representative would invite the PCC to lift his suspension for a second time, given the findings of the latest IOPC investigation.
Martin Surl, the former police and crime commissioner for Gloucestershire, said: “The delays are costly and damaging to all and why he remains suspended is increasingly difficult to understand.
“There’s nothing complex about this investigation and it should have been resolved months ago.
“Meanwhile we pay for two chief constables while the police and crime commissioner pleads poverty. Something isn’t right.”
During today’s (March 20) police and crime panel meeting at Shire Hall, Councillor Gareth Kitchen (G, Wotton-under-Edge) said he was being asked questions about the issue by residents.
He said the PCC said a year ago that when the whole process is over he would “welcome a detailed set of questions”.
“In the interests of opennesses and accountability, can you let myself and the panel know how you envisage that process taking place?”
Mr Nelson replied saying they are “still in the middle of a legal process”.
“It would be highly inappropriate for me to say more than I’ve already said in my public statement to do with this no case to answer, as much as I might want to,” he said.
“We’ve got to let due process proceed and see what happens in July at the panel.”
He said he would “love the opportunity to say more” at an “appropriate moment” once the process concludes.
“There are many implications that one could talk about, I just simply can’t at the moment,” he added.
Speaking towards the end of the meeting, police and crime panel chairman Ray Brassington (LD, Four Acres) said: “I suppose in the hearing in July, if the Chief Constable was cleared we could end up with two chief constables.”
Ruth Greenwood, who is the Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire (OPCC) replied saying: “As I said to you before when we spoke this week.
“We will cross each bridge when we get to it and not talk about possibilities right now, thank you.”
Chief Constable Hansen’s hearing will take place in public and start on July 16 and continue into the following week.
It will be held at a neutral location in Cheltenham which has yet to be announced.
The OPCC has been approached for further comment.