A misconduct hearing takes place when it is believed a police officer has breached the standards of professional behaviour.

Police Officer misconduct hearings are governed by legislation which was most recently amended by The Police (Conduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which came into force on 7th May 2024.

Previously, since May 2015, a misconduct hearing was heard by a panel which was led by a Legally Qualified Chair (‘LQC’). A panel would consist of three persons: the Chair (LQC), a police officer of the rank of superintendent or above, and an Independent Panel Member (‘IPM’).

In August 2023, following a review into the process of police officer dismissals, the Government announced a series of reforms to strengthen the police officer disciplinary system.

The delivery of these reforms was to be progressed in three tranches. Tranches 1 and 2 were to be delivered through secondary legislation, whereas tranche 3 would require changes to both primary and secondary legislation. Only tranche 1 has been completed at present and tranche 2 and 3 may be subject to change following change in government in July 2024.

Tranches were set out at present as follows:

  • Tranche 1 – Changes to the composition of misconduct panels.
  • Tranche 2 – Wider changes to police misconduct, vetting and performance.
  • Tranche 3 – Enabling chief officers to appeal to the Police Appeals Tribunal (as well as Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) where the officer concerned is the chief officer).

Since May 2024, a misconduct hearing has been changed under tranche 1, so the panel is no longer chaired by a LQC. Hearings will now be chaired by a Chief Officer (who may delegate as appropriate under the 2024 Regulations).

There will also be 2 IPMs who make up the rest of the panel. Previously, only 1 IPM was required on the panel.

Although there will no longer be a LQC chairing the hearing as part of the decision-making panel, a Legally Qualified Person (‘LQP’) will be appointed to each hearing to support the panel from appointment to conclusion.

In the North West Region (i.e. Cheshire OPCC, Cumbria OPCC, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Lancashire OPCC and Merseyside OPCC) a list of IPMs and LQPs are maintained and appointed to hearings on a rolling programme to maintain fairness and impartiality.

Nature of Cases

A Police Misconduct Hearing (PMH) is convened to hear allegations of misconduct by police officers. The facts will be heard by the panel, including where available, witness testimony and the panel will make a finding. The panel will decide whether the conduct of the police officer concerned amounts to misconduct, gross misconduct or neither and impose any disciplinary action as appropriate.

If the officer is found to have committed gross misconduct the available sanctions are:

  • Reflective Practice
  • Written warning
  • Final written warning
  • Dismissal with notice
  • Dismissal without notice

The maximum sanction at this hearing would be dismissal from the police service without notice.

The North West Region recently recruited new LQPs and IPMs under the 2024 Regulations. For any details of recruitment for these roles in future, they will be advertised on our vacancies page. 

You can find out more information about Police Misconduct Hearings in Merseyside, including details on upcoming hearings and the outcomes of previous hearings via Merseyside Police's website.