Chief constable behaved like Darth Vader – hearing told

A chief constable accused of bullying junior officers was compared to Darth Vader at a misconduct hearing.

Simon Byrne, the former head of Cheshire Police, was suspended from his post last year and his contract has since expired.

The police chief has been accused of gross misconduct for breaching standards of professional behaviour in respect of authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct.

John Beggs QC, representing police and crime commissioner David Keane, made closing statements to the hearing in which the comparison to the Star Wars villain was made.

Mr Byrne denied the allegations and said he never intended to cause worry or upset.

But at the Warrington Town Hall hearing on Monday, Mr Beggs said: “What we have is someone that is  dysfunctional and had disregard for his subordinates.

The 55-year-old police chief is alleged to have bullied and belittled staff after moving to the North West from the Metropolitan Police in 2014.

Mr Beggs called on the panel to make a finding of gross misconduct, as although many of the 72 allegations made against Mr Byrne were “trivial”, the context and repetition amounted to gross misconduct.

Gerry Boyle QC, defending Mr Byrne, said the process had been unfair to Mr Byrne.

He branded some of the allegations absurd and said they demonstrated the depths the police and crime commissioner was “prepared to plunge to to get findings against Mr Byrne”.

The hearing was told Mr Byrne, whose fixed-term contact has expired, was on the labour market.

Rachel Crasnow QC, chair of the panel, adjourned proceedings and said a decision and report would be released at a later date.