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| New South Yorkshire police chief steps down over conduct questions | New South Yorkshire police chief steps down over conduct questions |
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| The acting chief constable of South Yorkshire police, who on Wednesday replaced David Crompton following the Hillsborough inquest findings, has stepped down after it emerged her conduct at a previous force was being investigated. | The acting chief constable of South Yorkshire police, who on Wednesday replaced David Crompton following the Hillsborough inquest findings, has stepped down after it emerged her conduct at a previous force was being investigated. |
| South Yorkshire police force has been left without a chief constable for the second time in less than 48 hours after the Hillsborough inquest findings, as it emerged that deputy chief constable Dawn Copley was appointed despite having declared that she was being investigated over her conduct with her previous force, Greater Manchester police (GMP). | South Yorkshire police force has been left without a chief constable for the second time in less than 48 hours after the Hillsborough inquest findings, as it emerged that deputy chief constable Dawn Copley was appointed despite having declared that she was being investigated over her conduct with her previous force, Greater Manchester police (GMP). |
| On Wednesday, Crompton was forced out of his job following a wave of public anger about the way his officers conducted themselves during the inquest into the deaths the 96 people who lost their lives at Hillsborough. | On Wednesday, Crompton was forced out of his job following a wave of public anger about the way his officers conducted themselves during the inquest into the deaths the 96 people who lost their lives at Hillsborough. |
| Related: Hillsborough disaster: deadly mistakes and lies that lasted decades | Related: Hillsborough disaster: deadly mistakes and lies that lasted decades |
| He was suspended six months before he was due to retire as chief constable of the force, which had been heavily criticised by the families of the victims of Britain’s worst stadium disaster, for going back on a previous apology he had issued in 2012. | |
| Copley’s conduct is being investigated by GMP, which confirmed “an independent investigation was undertaken by Kent police following a number of allegations”. According to reports this involved a group of senior officers who were accused of “corrupt practice”. | Copley’s conduct is being investigated by GMP, which confirmed “an independent investigation was undertaken by Kent police following a number of allegations”. According to reports this involved a group of senior officers who were accused of “corrupt practice”. |
| Copley joined South Yorkshire police force in September as deputy chief constable. Prior to that she had been assistant chief constable at GMP since 2010, where she was also head of the force’s professional standards board. | Copley joined South Yorkshire police force in September as deputy chief constable. Prior to that she had been assistant chief constable at GMP since 2010, where she was also head of the force’s professional standards board. |
| The allegations against Copley have been made by John Buttress, who was a chief inspector at GMP. Buttress, who claims he was victimised because he stood up to senior officers in the force, was prosecuted for alleged mortgage fraud – a charge of which he was acquitted last January in Liverpool crown court after a jury deliberated for just 20 minutes. | The allegations against Copley have been made by John Buttress, who was a chief inspector at GMP. Buttress, who claims he was victimised because he stood up to senior officers in the force, was prosecuted for alleged mortgage fraud – a charge of which he was acquitted last January in Liverpool crown court after a jury deliberated for just 20 minutes. |
| Despite that, a police disciplinary tribunal found him guilty and he was sacked last September after Buttress was pursued for gross misconduct for the same alleged offence. | Despite that, a police disciplinary tribunal found him guilty and he was sacked last September after Buttress was pursued for gross misconduct for the same alleged offence. |
| He subsequently alleged criminal misconduct by Copley relating to the prosecution against him, and Kent police was called in to investigate. Buttress has also made the same allegations to support an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, which is next due to be heard in June. | He subsequently alleged criminal misconduct by Copley relating to the prosecution against him, and Kent police was called in to investigate. Buttress has also made the same allegations to support an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, which is next due to be heard in June. |
| GMP told the Guardian that the Kent investigation report has been completed and sent to Buttress, who has 28 days to appeal its findings. He said that he has not yet received it. | GMP told the Guardian that the Kent investigation report has been completed and sent to Buttress, who has 28 days to appeal its findings. He said that he has not yet received it. |
| Buttress said he believed it was “outrageous” that South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner, Alan Billings, had promoted Copley to acting chief constable following the suspension of David Crompton, when Billings knew Copley was still subject to his allegations. | Buttress said he believed it was “outrageous” that South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner, Alan Billings, had promoted Copley to acting chief constable following the suspension of David Crompton, when Billings knew Copley was still subject to his allegations. |
| He said that Copley had always told him she believed officers under investigation should not be in a promotion process. Copley declined to respond to that, limiting her response to the joint statement with Billings that she is to stand down. | He said that Copley had always told him she believed officers under investigation should not be in a promotion process. Copley declined to respond to that, limiting her response to the joint statement with Billings that she is to stand down. |
| “I have made very detailed criminal allegations against Dawn Copley,” Buttress said. “They are being investigated. While I anticipate a whitewash from Kent police, she should not have been appointed to acting chief constable while under investigation.” | “I have made very detailed criminal allegations against Dawn Copley,” Buttress said. “They are being investigated. While I anticipate a whitewash from Kent police, she should not have been appointed to acting chief constable while under investigation.” |
| Billings, South Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner, said on Thursday evening that Copley had “offered to step back to her substantive role” while another candidate was sought. | Billings, South Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner, said on Thursday evening that Copley had “offered to step back to her substantive role” while another candidate was sought. |
| He said this was due to her not wanting “any further negative publicity or criticism to be levelled at the force”. | He said this was due to her not wanting “any further negative publicity or criticism to be levelled at the force”. |
| In a statement on Thursday evening Billings said: “I asked deputy chief constable Dawn Copley to temporarily act as chief constable following the suspension of David Crompton. | In a statement on Thursday evening Billings said: “I asked deputy chief constable Dawn Copley to temporarily act as chief constable following the suspension of David Crompton. |
| “There has been media comment today about Mrs Copley. I would like to make clear that Mrs Copley fully declared the details of allegations into her conduct when she applied for the post of deputy chief constable here at South Yorkshire police. | “There has been media comment today about Mrs Copley. I would like to make clear that Mrs Copley fully declared the details of allegations into her conduct when she applied for the post of deputy chief constable here at South Yorkshire police. |
| Related: After Hillsborough, is South Yorkshire police force worth saving? | |
| “As this matter has not yet been concluded I am unable to comment publicly on the allegations and the outcome but as soon as I am able, I will do so. In the meantime Mrs Copley has my full support. However, Mrs Copley has made clear to me that she does not want any further negative publicity or criticism to be levelled at the Force. | “As this matter has not yet been concluded I am unable to comment publicly on the allegations and the outcome but as soon as I am able, I will do so. In the meantime Mrs Copley has my full support. However, Mrs Copley has made clear to me that she does not want any further negative publicity or criticism to be levelled at the Force. |
| “In the interests of the force and the workforce she has therefore offered to step back to her substantive role to allow me to seek support from the College of Policing in identifying another chief officer from outside the force to act as temporary chief constable until a recruitment process can take place. | “In the interests of the force and the workforce she has therefore offered to step back to her substantive role to allow me to seek support from the College of Policing in identifying another chief officer from outside the force to act as temporary chief constable until a recruitment process can take place. |
| “Mrs Copley will need to stay in post for a very short period of time, to deal with pressing matters, but, at her request, this will be for the shortest possible period. | “Mrs Copley will need to stay in post for a very short period of time, to deal with pressing matters, but, at her request, this will be for the shortest possible period. |
| “Events have moved very quickly over the last few days. I am sorry that I cannot say anything more definite at this time but we have been working closely with national bodies about these issues and hope to make a further announcement in the coming days.” | “Events have moved very quickly over the last few days. I am sorry that I cannot say anything more definite at this time but we have been working closely with national bodies about these issues and hope to make a further announcement in the coming days.” |