IPCC force Warwickshire Police Misconduct Hearing

In February 2007, the IPCC confirmed that it had for the first time used the powers granted under the Police Reform Act 2002 to direct a force to hold a misconduct hearing in public.

Following the fatal stabbing of Colette Lynch in February 2005 by her estranged partner Percy Wright, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) undertook an independent investigation into the circumstances leading up to her death. The public hearing was announced as a result of this investigation.

The hearing is scheduled to take place from Monday 5 November to Friday
9 November 2007. It is due to start at 10am each day and will be held at Brownsover Hall Hotel in Rugby. Members of the public will be able to attend the hearing as observers and entrance will be on a first come, first served basis. A guidance document regarding the Warwickshire Police hearing process is available at http://www.warwickshire.police.uk/currentIssues/pmh/ipccfile.pdf

Two PCs will face the Warwickshire Police misconduct hearing in relation to alleged breaches of the Police Code of Conduct identified by the IPCC investigation into events leading up to the death of Colette Lynch. The panel, consisting of 3 members, will have the full range of sanctions available to them in determining the matter.

At the end of this hearing, the IPCC will make known the outcome of all internal disciplinary matters relating to this investigation.