Suspended Northants police chief’s medal ‘fake’, panel says

A Falklands War medal worn by a suspended police chief accused of exaggerating his naval achievements is suspected to be a fake, a disciplinary commission has learned.

Nick Adderley of Northamptonshire Police had constructed a “legend that was not true”, the hearing said.

This included the fact that he was a veteran of the Falklands War, even though he was only 15 years old when it began in April 1982.

Mr Adderley denies any wrongdoing and claims he did not act with integrity.

Mr Adderley is accused of exaggerating his rank, length of service and achievements in the Navy, the hearing was told.

John Beggs, KC, representing the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) during the three-day misconduct hearing at Northampton Saints Stadium, said it was not alleged that these “deceptions” were crucial to Mr Adderley getting the chief constable’s job in August 2018, but he “clearly must not have deceived those who were considering his application”.

Mr Adderley, who was suspended from his post after allegations were made against him, appeared on the first day of the hearing on Tuesday in full uniform and tried to avoid the press waiting outside the building by entering through a side entrance.

His lawyer stated at the hearing that Mr Adderley denied any wrongdoing and had not acted with integrity, but acknowledged that he had breached standards of duty and responsibility.

Mr Beggs told the panel, chaired by Callum Cowx, that Mr Adderley had claimed that he had been on active service during his naval career, that he had served as a military negotiator in Haiti and that he had been a “commander or lieutenant”.

All of these claims were “massive exaggerations” and Mr Adderley had only ever been an able seaman before being discharged after two years’ service, Mr Beggs said, adding that he had also “allowed or encouraged the notion that he had served in the Falkland Islands”.

The South Atlantic Medal, awarded to British servicemen and civilians for their service in the Falklands War, which Mr Adderley had worn several times and claimed belonged to his brother, “is probably not a valid medal”, Mr Beggs said.

He told the panel: “This case is not about whether Mr Adderley made a positive contribution to Northants Police.

“The issue is whether he knowingly misrepresented his length of service, rank and achievements in the Royal Navy over many years and permitted or encouraged the notion that he served in the Falkland Islands.

“To claim to have served your country when in reality you are 15 years old is an outrageous act that can be committed by any human being, let alone a senior police officer.”

Mr Beggs also alleged that Mr Adderley failed to correct a number of media articles and publications over the years which had mentioned “falsehoods” about his employment history and that his CV and application form when applying for the post of Chief Constable contained false information.

He added: “He was never a leader in the Royal Navy in any reasonable or ordinary sense, he was the lowest rank.

“He described himself as a commended officer, but received no official awards or medals. He later suggested that by commended he meant that people told him he had ‘done a good job.'”