Police chief 'wore Falklands medal he didn't earn and lied about navy career'

A misconduct hearing heard how a police chief wore a Falklands War medal he did not earn and "exagerrated" his military achievements.

Chief Constable Nick Adderley, of Northamptonshire Police, has been suspended pending investigation after being accused of exagerrating his rank, length of service and Royal Navy achievements.

He was suspended in a "Walter Mitty" probe and claimed he was a Falklands War veteran despite being 15 when it started in April 1982.

The 57-year-old claimed to have been military negotiator in Haiti during the Anti-Duvalier protests in 1986. When questioned by the IOPC, he said actually he wasn't a military negotiator. He claimed he was just referring to an academic paper he had written during the protests.

Mr Adderley denies misconduct and acting without integrity. It is claimed he falsely stated he was a Royal Navy officer and attended the Britannia Royal Naval College, despite his application being rejected.

John Beggs KC said Mr Adderley created legend in terms of the South Atlantic Medal, awarded to troops and civilians over the Falklands War. He said the medal that Mr Adderley wore on several occasions and had claimed was his brother’s is “not believed to be a valid medal”.

Mr Beggs said he wore medals on the wrong side, adding: "The wearing of the South Atlantic Medal was intended to create a narrative, a legend, that he was someone who served in the Falklands War. He was never a negotiator. He never went to Haiti." He explained to the IOPC that it was a paper he had written at the time and it was badly worded.

"Could he really word something so badly, or is it more likely that what he was doing was building a military naval legend that wasn't true? He sought to double down and while admitting it was lazy and sloppy, he sought credit for the academic insights his paper revealed. He was 20 years old when he wrote it, had no tertiary education and no peer review."

Mr Beggs, acting for the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said it was not suggested the deceits were key in Mr Adderley becoming chief constable in 2018. But Mr Adderley "should not deceive those who were considering his application".

Mr Adderley arrived for the first day of the three-day hearing in full uniform. He tried to avoid the press by entering through a side door at Northampton Saints Stadium. Mr Beggs told the panel, chaired by Callum Cowx, that Mr Adderley said he saw active service and had been a commander or a lieutenant.

All these claims are "enormous exaggerations" and Mr Adderley was only an able seaman before he left the Navy after two years of service, not 10. Mr Beggs claimed the officer had failed to correct a number of media articles and publications which mentioned falsehoods in his career.

He said the Falklands claims caused deep offence as 255 UK troops died. Mr Adderley admits he breached standards in terms of duties and responsibilities.

The hearing continues.