WIREDGOV

A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) inspector will face a gross misconduct hearing following an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into the arrest of a man at an anti-fracking demonstration in Salford.

Inspector David Kehoe was subject to an IPCC investigation into the arrest of Dr Steven Peers at Barton Moss in January 2014. Dr Peers was detained for failing to provide a breath specimen.

Footage of the arrest, published online, prompted a referral of the incident to the IPCC from GMP. The IPCC investigator formed the view that Inspector Kehoe had a case to answer for gross misconduct with regard to the circumstances of the arrest and the seizure of Dr Peers’ property.

GMP disagreed with the findings of the investigation, resulting in IPCC Deputy Chair Rachel Cerfontyne directing that a gross misconduct hearing take place. This will be held by GMP at the force headquarters for five days from 9.30am on Monday 17 October.

Notes to Editor:

Details of how to attend this hearing can be found on the Greater Manchester Police website: http://www.gmp.police.uk/(link is external)

Originally a supervised investigation, completed by GMP in June 2014, Dr Peers appealed against the findings and this was upheld by the IPCC. As a result, the IPCC began an independent investigation in September 2014 which concluded in June the following year – the final report was sent to GMP in August 2015. The IPCC directed GMP to hold gross misconduct proceedings in January this year (2016) and has since awaited a date for the hearing.