Three senior Gwent Police officers have had allegations of gross misconduct proven by a professional standards panel.
Chief Superintendent Marc Budden and Chief Inspector Paul Staniforth have been dismissed without notice, while Mark Warrender, a former chief superintendent with the force retired before the outcome of the disciplinary.
All three have been added to the banned officers list and the force said that if Mr Warrender had been a serving officer, he too would have been dismissed.
Deputy Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman said: “This outcome sends a clear message that these kinds of behaviours will not be tolerated within Gwent Police.
“The public expect high standards of integrity from us and where officers abuse their position of power they will be held to account.
“Over the past three years we’ve reflected on behaviours and changed our culture.
“We’ve made great strides in reinforcing the standards we expect from everyone in our service, regardless of rank.
“This event was a stark reminder to us that the highest standards of behaviour must be upheld by all, on or off duty.
“Every day the vast majority of our officers behave with professionalism and honesty when serving their local community and behaviour such as this lets us all down.
“Our focus has remained on the needs of the victim and ensuring that anyone, within the force or within our community, feels confident to come forward and report unacceptable behaviour to us and that they will be believed and supported.
“The chair’s decision to hold the hearing in private meant that individuals in this case felt able to participate in the process.
“Taking action against senior officers is a huge step for colleagues and we can only applaud the courage of the individuals who came forward and participated in this complex investigation.”
Incident at retirement party
Chief Superintendent Mark Warrender, who oversaw policing for Caerphilly, and Chief Superintendent Marc Budden, who was the force’s temporary assistant chief constable, were both suspended in 2019.
It followed an incident in Cardiff on June 28 that year at the retirement party of former Gwent Police Chief Constable Julian Williams.
An allegation of sexual assault was made against Mr Warrender, while Mr Budden was suspended over an allegation of misconduct in a public office. The CPS last year decided the pair would not face criminal charges.
However the two faced allegations of gross misconduct at a police hearing held behind closed doors earlier this year alongside Chief Inspector Paul Staniforth.
The proven allegations amounting to gross misconduct
The officers’ names will be placed on the public Barred List held by the College of Policing pursuant to Part 4A of the Police Act 1996.
The following matters were found proved by the panel:
i. Inappropriate conversation with a more junior member of police staff at a police social event (all three officers)
In breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Equality and Diversity, Authority, Respect and Courtesy and Discreditable Conduct.
ii. Failing to challenge and report the improper behaviour of the others who were engaging in the conversation set out above (all three officers).
In breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Failure to Challenge and Report improper conduct and Discreditable Conduct
iii. Inappropriate touching (Former Chief Superintendent Warrender only).
In breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Equality and Diversity, Authority, Respect and Courtesy and Discreditable Conduct.
iv. Failing to disclose a conflict of interest in relation to (iii) above (Chief Superintendent Marc Budden only).
In breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Duties and Responsibilities, Orders and Instructions, Honesty and Integrity and Discreditable Conduct.
v. Inappropriately disclosing information in relation to the misconduct and criminal investigation into (iii) above to the victim (Chief Superintendent Marc Budden only).
In breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Confidentiality and Discreditable Conduct.
vi. Providing a dishonest account about his conduct (Chief Superintendent Marc Budden only).
In breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Honesty and Integrity.
vii. Engaging in inappropriate behaviour whilst on duty (Chief Superintendent Marc Budden only)
In breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Authority, Respect and Courtesy and Discreditable Conduct.
No criminal charges from the CPS
In May last year the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed the pair would not face criminal charges after an investigation by the Independent Office of Police Conduct and Avon and Somerset Police.
Avon and Somerset Police carried out an investigation on behalf of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which was completed in July 2019.
In May last year, an IOPC spokesperson confirmed disciplinary proceedings could still go ahead against the officers.
At the time the CPS said: “Following a referral of evidence by the IOPC regarding the alleged conduct on two senior police officers, the CPS has decided that our legal test is not met to charge them with any offence.
“We considered the offence of sexual assault against one officer, and the offences of misconduct in public office and the improper exercise of police powers against the second officer.
“The role of the CPS is to make fair and independent decisions based on the available evidence and the complainant has the right to seek a review of our decision under the CPS’s Victim’s Right to Review scheme.”
Mr Budden joined the police in 1993, and was in charge of neighbourhood policing, partnerships and uniform operations at Gwent Police before rising to temporary assistant chief constable.
Mr Warrender joined Gwent Police in 1996 and was the divisional commander for the force’s west policing area, which covers Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Torfaen.
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