The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has officially closed its criminal investigation into former Northamptonshire Chief Constable Nick Adderley regarding fraud claims linked to Staffordshire Police. The IOPC found no evidence to support the allegations and confirmed that no further action will be taken.
The inquiry focused on alleged irregularities involving police vehicle maintenance contracts during Adderley’s tenure as Assistant Chief Constable at Staffordshire Police. However, the IOPC concluded there was insufficient evidence of wrongdoing.
Adderley was previously dismissed from Northamptonshire Police following a high-profile misconduct hearing in June 2024, which revealed that he had fabricated details about his military service. He falsely claimed to have served in the Falklands conflict and attended the Britannia Royal Naval College. These falsehoods led to disciplinary proceedings that ran concurrently with the fraud investigation.
In April 2023, the IOPC submitted evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), but the CPS decided not to pursue charges against Adderley.
The IOPC also investigated another serving Staffordshire Police officer for fraud-related offences but found no criminal conduct in that case either. Additionally, two former Staffordshire Police staff members and two members of the public were arrested in June 2023 as part of related local investigations, which continue independently of the IOPC.
“A criminal and gross misconduct investigation involving one serving and one former officer concluded with no case against the former officer. The currently serving officer was also cleared of criminality,” an IOPC spokesperson said.
Despite being cleared of fraud, Adderley’s career has been significantly damaged by the exposure of his false claims regarding military and educational credentials. He began his role as Northamptonshire Chief Constable in 2018, but the scandal has left a lasting impact on his reputation.
The identity of the other officer involved in the IOPC investigation has not been disclosed, and no disciplinary action is expected against them.
Originally published by UKNIP.
