A former chief constable has been found guilty of gross misconduct following disciplinary proceedings. The panel said he would have been dismissed from the police service had he not already resigned, underlining the seriousness of its findings.

The ruling concerns the former officer’s professional conduct while in post, although the material provided does not set out the specific allegations or the force involved. Gross misconduct is the most serious disciplinary category in policing and can result in dismissal and restrictions on future police employment.