Allegations of interference in the provision of witness accounts - Hampshire Constabulary, February 2017

Following an incident at a Hampshire Constabulary custody suite in 2016 we conducted a ‘death or serious injury’ (DSI) investigation and reviewed the evidence gathered. During this process we found an indication that some of the evidence may have been changed or omitted.

We started an investigation in February 2017 to establish the extent of the changes or omissions to the evidence gathered. During this investigation a Hampshire Constabulary inspector was identified as a potential subject in directing changes made to witness statements.

During the investigation our investigators compared and contrasted witness statements provided to the DSI investigation. The inspector was interviewed and their email communications with witnesses examined. Those witnesses were also interviewed and provided statements.

Based on the evidence available, we were of the opinion that the inspector may have breached the Honesty and Integrity standard of professional behaviour and may therefore have a case to answer for gross misconduct for influencing the way in which witnesses provided their accounts, delaying the provision of witness accounts, and including recipients in communications despite a conceivable conflict of interest between them. We completed our investigation in February 2018.

After reviewing our report, Hampshire Constabulary agreed that the inspector may have a case to answer for misconduct and should attend a misconduct hearing.

At the hearing, misconduct was proven, and it was agreed that the inspector would receive management advice. This took place in January 2019.