A recent rule change to allow the public to view police misconduct hearings in person or online is to be tested for the first time. On Monday, a Cambridgeshire police officer faces being grilled over evidence she gave to Cambridge Crown Court.
PC Kayleigh Rocca is to appear at a misconduct hearing accused of gross misconduct and facing allegations that “are so serious as to justify dismissal”.
A month ago, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police opted to allow the public to attend such hearings online or in person.
Police say this will “improve the accessibility and transparency of misconduct proceedings” after it was announced the three forces have built a dedicated hearing suite at Lysander House, Tempsford.
“The new suite is equipped with state-of-the-art technology in addition to soundproofed rooms for panel deliberations and public attendance,” said a police statement.
“These facilities allow members of the public to attend misconduct hearings both online and in person, offering greater flexibility and access. All hearings are supported by a recently introduced hearings officer.”
The allegations against PC Rocca are that on 8th June 2023 and 12th June 2023 she “acted without honesty and integrity and acted in a manner likely to bring discredit upon the police service”.
Specifically, “in that she deliberately or recklessly gave evidence under oath before the Cambridge Crown Court that was untrue and had a tendency to mislead the court.
“The effect of her evidence is that the court were misled as to whether PC Rocca had a specific recollection of carrying out CCTV enquiries in connection with a police investigation.
“The standards engaged are honesty, integrity, and discreditable conduct. The matters set out above amount to gross misconduct and are so serious as to justify dismissal”.
Conditions for the hearing
Those intending to observe must register their interest by emailing publichearings@beds.police.uk before the end of Friday 24th January 2025.
No recording equipment is to be used or brought into the hearing room. If mobile phones are present, these are not to be used to record or take any photographs of the hearing.
Who can attend?
Any member of the public or press can make a request to attend a misconduct hearing, provided they’re 18 or over.
Apply to attend a hearing
To request a place at a hearing, view the list of upcoming misconduct hearings and complete the booking form. If a place is available you will be sent a confirmation email.
Detective Chief Superintendent William Hodgkinson, Head of BCH Professional Standards Department (PSD), said: “This is a significant step towards reducing costs, promoting transparency, and building confidence and trust in policing.
“We are now able to live stream hearings to our communities, demonstrating accountability in the process and enabling us to deliver a more professional service.
“Feedback from the hearings that have already been held in the new venue has been extremely positive from both staff and the public.
“We offer full transparency. If a member of our community is interested to understand what happens in police misconduct, they now can both in person and online.
“In addition, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) commit to publishing a twelve-month rolling period of misconduct outcomes online making BCH PSD one of the most transparent in the country as identified recently by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in their recent bulletin.”
Misconduct proceedings are published on all three force websites under misconduct hearings with hearing dates published seven days in advance together with details on how to attend online or in person.
Lysander House, Tempsford, which was leased to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire in 2022. There is a tenant break 28/02/2027. The initial rent was £242,400 per annum exclusive. Now home also to a special suite for police misconduct hearings for Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire. DETAILS/IMAGE: Savills
