ACC suspended over ‘inappropriate behaviour’

A senior officer has been suspended for allegedly arguing with a colleague at a conference.

It is alleged that Rebekah Sutcliffe, an assistant chief constable with Greater Manchester Police (GMP), entered into a dispute with Superintendent Sarah Jackson while at the Senior Women in Policing Conference at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel.

The conference, held from May 4-6, was designed to raise the delegates’ and the police service’s “profile and perception”.

Ms Sutcliffe has now been suspended for her actions but Supt Jackson will not face any sanctions.

A spokesperson for the force said: “A senior officer has been suspended following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

“An investigation is under way and it would be inappropriate to make further comment.”

Ms Sutcliffe has previously been subjected to two other investigations over her behaviour.

In 2010, she was given “suitable advice” by then-ACC Ian Hopkins after she tried to coerce a police constable into letting her gatecrash a high-security Labour conference.

She was also investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in 2014 for failing to disclose the fact that she was in a relationship with a colleague while chairing a disciplinary hearing.

The complaint alleged that it was inappropriate for Ms Sutcliffe to sit on the panel without declaring the fact that she was dating Superintendent Paul Rumney, head of GMP’s Professional Standards Branch.

The IPCC found that Ms Sutcliffe had not deliberately intended to withhold information, but GMP decided she should not chair disciplinary hearings in the future.

Tony Lloyd, GMP police and crime commissioner and interim Mayor, said: “Any allegation of misconduct against a police officer must be investigated fully.

“The chief constable has taken appropriate action to allow the investigation to be carried out, and it would not be proper for me to comment further until it is completed.”