Acting Police chief suspended

[Vanden Saab]

Acting police chief has been suspended over phone use allegations after the previous chief was suspended over sexual allegations. What on earth is going on.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/ar...

[Southerner]

“ The IOPC said Mr Colwell had been served with a gross misconduct notice over allegations he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a "personal nature". “

In fairness, it’s hardly a heinous crime, a bit daft perhaps at the worst. The article doesn’t suggest that anyone took issue with what he sent, just the force deciding that he shouldn’t have sent it on his work mobile. Sounds more like the powers-that-be stirring up a needless sh*tstorm in order to demonstrate ‘transparency’ etc, and causing everyone a pointless headache in the process. Word in his ear and let him get on with his job, surely.

[Collectingbrass]

Depends on the nature of the messages, telling your wife you wont be home for tea because there's been a murder is ok, repeated banter over football with the lads probably warrants a quiet word, but sending a dick pic* to a 20 year old WPC is also personal in nature and warrants suspension and a full investigation

.*I'm not saying he's done this, just giving an example of something at that end of the scale

[Gareth79]

It's "gross misconduct" so it has to be related to the content/manner of the messages, rather than simply using a work phone for personal use, which surely would be a series of warnings at worst.

[sjc]

Southerner said:

“ The IOPC said Mr Colwell had been served with a gross misconduct notice over allegations he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a "personal nature". “

In fairness, it’s hardly a heinous crime, a bit daft perhaps at the worst. The article doesn’t suggest that anyone took issue with what he sent, just the force deciding that he shouldn’t have sent it on his work mobile. Sounds more like the powers-that-be stirring up a needless sh*tstorm in order to demonstrate ‘transparency’ etc, and causing everyone a pointless headache in the process. Word in his ear and let him get on with his job, surely.

It never ceases to amaze me though how people get to this level of career with what appears to be absolutely zero common sense.

[XCP]

sjc said:

It never ceases to amaze me though how people get to this level of career with what appears to be absolutely zero common sense.

Me likewise.
Buy a burner from Tesco for £9.99 if you want to make dubious phone calls.

[Sheets Tabuer]

Mrs has had colleagues dismissed for this, trying to chat up victims via whatsapp.

[bitchstewie]

Taken at face value it sounds to me as if it's more about content and context than simply sending messages using a work phone.

[XCP]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Mrs has had colleagues dismissed for this, trying to chat up victims via whatsapp.

Whereas once upon a time attractive lady victims used to get a detective turn up with a bunch of flowers. What a world we have now!

[Paul Dishman]

Vanden Saab said:

Acting police chief has been suspended over phone use allegations after the previous chief was suspended over sexual allegations. What on earth is going on.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/ar...

It's an utter fking shambles, we're having to pay the wages of two suspended chief constables, the Police & Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez is also in trouble for appointing a deputy without getting authorisation to do so and the force is in special measures.


Hernandez is a waste of space, it's pity she can't be fired too

[Paul Dishman]

sjc said:

It never ceases to amaze me though how people get to this level of career with what appears to be absolutely zero common sense.

A combination of arrogance about rank and a lack of intelligence

[Derek Smith]

sjc said:

It never ceases to amaze me though how people get to this level of career with what appears to be absolutely zero common sense.

Part of the problem for such rankers is their struggle to get to the top of their profession means they lack experience in policing. They spend a few months, sometimes very few, working on shifts and then move up the ladder. They known nothing about police work. Some spend a short time in CID, then onto HQ CID, make decisions which are shown to be nonsensical, then keep their heads down, not making a decision, and therefore not making a mistake.

The reason the service often reuses old methods of policing is the decision makers are safe. It's been done before. It'll be done again. And all the time, they have no idea what's going on.

The average foot bobby (but by no means all) know enough not to leave evidence of such behaviour. They've got some idea.

It's the same with MPs. One with a precon should have not so much admitted it, but claimed it, rather like those who smoked/sniffed drugs 'back in the day'. We can all write their speeches in which they claim this gave them an insight, and prepared them for their career in politics.

It's not that they are stupid. Senior officers often have multiple degrees. I worked with one who used images of a real fatal, an horrific one, without permission of the NoK. Two degrees and no sense. Bewildering.

[Earthdweller]

I don’t think it is a struggle Derek, but the opposite

From what I’ve seen certain individuals are “identified” very early in their careers as “stars Of the future”

They are then wrapped in cotton wool and just bounce around various back office and admin roles bullring their CV’s

One I know recently retired with his knighthood, a really nice bloke and very decent but next to no operational experience

I know two other Chief Cons that have been in the news recently both have been personally criticised along with their Forces

One I wouldn’t pay in bottle tops who when an Inspector was renowned for turning things fubar the moment they turned up at an incident

The other is a top cop that did it the hard way and who I worked with as a Pc and Sgt .. but that is the exception

The one I wouldn’t pay in bottle tops I’d say is more the norm sadly

[Ridgemont]

Earthdweller said:

I don’t think it is a struggle Derek, but the opposite

From what I’ve seen certain individuals are “identified” very early in their careers as “stars Of the future”

They are then wrapped in cotton wool and just bounce around various back office and admin roles bullring their CV’s

One I know recently retired with his knighthood, a really nice bloke and very decent but next to no operational experience

I know two other Chief Cons that have been in the news recently both have been personally criticised along with their Forces

One I wouldn’t pay in bottle tops who when an Inspector was renowned for turning things fubar the moment they turned up at an incident

The other is a top cop that did it the hard way and who I worked with as a Pc and Sgt .. but that is the exception

The one I wouldn’t pay in bottle tops I’d say is more the norm sadly

I’m slightly intrigued. I work in the private sector.
I watch certain types fail upwards and generally they stall. Usually at Director/VP level. Because they will get found out. Ultimately no serious senior manager (CEO level etc) wants a dead weight. So they get shifted out whether by making life uncomfortable so they resign or their impact curtailed by being given a nonsensical role.

Having this level of dim bulb getting to chief con level seems remarkable. What on earth is the promotion process?

[Earthdweller]

Ridgemont said:

I’m slightly intrigued. I work in the private sector.
I watch certain types fail upwards and generally they stall. Usually at Director/VP level. Because they will get found out. Ultimately no serious senior manager (CEO level etc) wants a dead weight. So they get shifted out whether by making life uncomfortable so they resign or their impact curtailed by being given a nonsensical role.

Having this level of dim bulb getting to chief con level seems remarkable. What on earth is the promotion process?

In my view it’s corrupt as fk

I’d say upto Insp/Chief Insp level it’s pretty fair and on merit

Beyond that, It’s who you know, who you’re fking, who’s team you bat for and who you are willing to support and in some cases your characteristic’s

People get sponsored and supported and sadly the sponsors often want “their” people around them

But maybe that’s just me being jaded

Edited by Earthdweller on Saturday 30th November 20:19

[turbobloke]

Vanden Saab said:

Acting police chief has been suspended over phone use allegations after the previous chief was suspended over sexual allegations. What on earth is going on.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/ar...

When I saw the thread, I thought it was a development somewhere else.

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2024-10-28/su...

Not trying to hijack the thread, just surprised there are two locations, relatively nearby, in such dire circumstances due to investigations at the most senior level.

[768]

Southerner said:

“ The IOPC said Mr Colwell had been served with a gross misconduct notice over allegations he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a "personal nature". “

In fairness, it’s hardly a heinous crime, a bit daft perhaps at the worst. The article doesn’t suggest that anyone took issue with what he sent, just the force deciding that he shouldn’t have sent it on his work mobile. Sounds more like the powers-that-be stirring up a needless sh*tstorm in order to demonstrate ‘transparency’ etc, and causing everyone a pointless headache in the process. Word in his ear and let him get on with his job, surely.

I'm inclined to agree at face value, but they've managed to fall sufficiently far short on transparency that we have no real idea of the message content and therefore are pretty clueless on why it was considered gross misconduct. I'd normally want employees using a phone for personal messages - that means they're using it instead of turning it off and leaving it in a drawer.

[The Gauge]

Would love to know how many masons there are in the upper ranks of the police.

[Earthdweller]

768 said:

I'm inclined to agree at face value, but they've managed to fall sufficiently far short on transparency that we have no real idea of the message content and therefore are pretty clueless on why it was considered gross misconduct. I'd normally want employees using a phone for personal messages - that means they're using it instead of turning it off and leaving it in a drawer.

I have a good friend who is facing gross misconduct for receiving WhatsApp message's deemed misogynistic, they were found on someone else's phone, a Cop who was arrested for other matters and were historic

Aiui he ignored them and didn't report the other officer and now thinks he's going to be sacked

Hence my job phone/tablet went straight in a locked drawer the moment I finished duty until the next time I was on duty

[The Gauge]

The messages can often be on their own personal phone though, WhatsApp groups are what gets cops sacked, one person posts something, the others don't challenge it, they all gt sacked.

Up my way there's a whole intake of probationers who are under similar investigation through just one of them posting something on their work WhatsApp group. Will be interesting seeing how that one plays out as they face having to sack well over a dozen cops. I'm guessing that a carpet will be lifted as soon as the broom comes out.