Chief Constable would have been dismissed if he had not already quit

A chief constable would have been dismissed if he had not already quit after a panel found he committed gross misconduct, a hearing has been told.

Christopher Noble was suspended from the top job at Staffordshire Police in August last year but resigned on Tuesday, the day before he was due to face a misconduct hearing.

At the conclusion of the police disciplinary hearing at a Staffordshire conference centre on Thursday the panel found the allegations against Mr Noble proven.

The details of his misconduct cannot be outlined because of reporting restrictions imposed by the panel, despite legal representations from the media, including the Press Association.

The chairwoman of the panel, former parliamentary commissioner for standards Kathryn Stone, said Mr Noble, who did not attend the hearing, had breached the standards of professional behaviour.

Ms Stone, of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, said the breaches were so serious as to be gross misconduct and that Mr Noble would have been dismissed if he had not already resigned.

Mr Noble, who was appointed as chief constable after moving to the force from Humberside Police, tendered his resignation in a letter to Ben Adams, the Staffordshire commissioner for police, fire and crime – the man who appointed him in 2021.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Adams said: “I can confirm that yesterday I received chief constable Chris Noble’s resignation, which I have accepted with immediate effect.

“Becky Riggs will remain as Staffordshire Police’s Acting Chief Constable.”

At the conclusion of the hearing, Mr Adams added: “Public confidence in policing is vital, so all allegations of misconduct must be fully and independently investigated.

"That process must apply to everyone, regardless of rank or status.

“Now that this independent process has concluded, Staffordshire Police can move forward."

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