Northants police chief built a false 'military naval legend', panel hears

The county's top policeman has today faced a gross misconduct hearing over claims that he misrepresented his military history throughout his professional career.

Nick Adderley, the Northamptonshire chief of police, was first put under scrutiny in September 2023 when it was revealed that he was wearing a medal given to veterans who had served in the Falklands War.

Mr Adderley, who was born in 1966, would have only been 15 years old during the conflict. He then stated that the medal belonged to his older brother who served in the war and passed it on to him when he emigrated.

The top cop has been suspended on full pay since October 2023, after the complaint was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which began an investigation.

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Mr Adderley admitted he "breached standards" in terms of duties and responsibilities, but denies gross misconduct and that he "acted without honesty and integrity".

John Beggs KC, the counsel of the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), alleged that Mr Adderley told "barefaced lies" on a number of matters in his CV when he applied for the chief constable role. These included claims that he served for 10 years in the Royal Navy, was a former Commander, was a military negotiator in Haiti at the age of 20, and attended the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College.

The counsel said that Mr Adderley's application shared a "common theme of deceit" and a "false narrative, building a military naval legend that wasn't true".

The hearing was told that Mr Adderley served in the Navy for just two years before he was discharged in 1986, and stayed at the most junior position throughout. It was also noted that he had never attended the naval college, also known as Dartmouth, as his application was rejected.

Mr Adderley also contended that he never claimed to be a military negotiator and that the confusion of his position came from "poor wording" surrounding an academic paper he had written on the protests at the time.

The allegations came to light when a former wife of Mr Adderley complained that the media coverage of his military service was incorrect. The complaint was passed on to a senior employee at the office of the PFCC, Paul Fell, who told the hearing that Mr Adderley confirmed to him his alleged 10 years of service and deployment to the Falklands in a phone call.

The defence counsel, Matthew Holdcroft, put to the hearing that Mr Adderley had never suggested the Falklands medal was his when the complaint was first made and that he was always clear that it was his brother's service being described.

Mr Beggs KC said: "This case is not about whether Mr Adderley made a positive contribution to Northamptonshire Police.

"This case is about whether Mr Adderley has, over many years, deliberately advanced the false narrative to exaggerate his service, his rank and his achievements in the Royal Navy.

"The idea that he served for 10 years [in the Navy] was completely untrue, unless you take into account that he was a sea cadet from the age of 10.

"To claim you served in a war for your country when you were 15 and in the sea cadets is an egregious thing to have done."

He also put to the hearing that Mr Adderley had failed to correct a number of errors reported by the media and even Northamptonshire Police in relation to his years of military service. These included claims that he rose to the rank of Lieutenant and served in the Falklands War, which are false.

The hearing continues.