Former Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley has been cleared of fraud allegations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The accusations stemmed from his time at Staffordshire Police and involved the maintenance of police vehicles.
Background:
Nick Adderley, who served as Northamptonshire’s chief constable from July 2018 until his dismissal in June 2024, was previously under investigation alongside another former Staffordshire officer and two members of the public. They were arrested in June 2023 but released under investigation.
The IOPC has now concluded its investigation, finding that Adderley has no case to answer regarding the fraud allegations. The investigation, conducted under the IOPC’s direction, also found no indication of criminality on the part of another still-serving officer.
Details of the Investigation:
The investigation focused on allegations related to police vehicle maintenance during Adderley’s tenure at Staffordshire Police, where he served as an assistant chief constable responsible for the county’s uniformed local policing teams.
An IOPC spokesperson confirmed:
“It has been decided that the former officer has no case to answer. The investigation, carried out under the direction of the IOPC, also found no indication of criminality on the part of the still-serving officer.”
The IOPC is no longer overseeing the investigation, which is now being conducted locally by Staffordshire Police.
Dismissal for Gross Misconduct:
Adderley was dismissed in June 2024 after a gross misconduct hearing that lasted five days. The panel found that he had lied about his military career, including exaggerating his naval rank, length of service, and achievements.
The panel ruled that Adderley’s repeated misrepresentations of his military record amounted to gross misconduct, resulting in his immediate dismissal.
The IOPC subsequently referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) following the misconduct proceedings, but a decision from the CPS is still pending.
Community Reactions:
News of Adderley’s clearance has sparked mixed reactions on social media. One user commented:
“If he’s cleared of fraud, that’s one thing—but lying about military service is still a serious breach of trust.”
Others expressed relief that the fraud charges were dropped, but remained critical of his past conduct.
Ongoing Developments:
While the fraud allegations have been dismissed, Adderley’s legacy remains tarnished due to his misrepresentation of his military service. The CPS decision regarding potential charges from the gross misconduct case is still awaited.
This remains a developing story, and further updates will follow as the local investigation continues.
More from: Staffordshire · Northamptonshire
