Chief Constable Rod Hansen Redeployed After Suspension Lifted
Rod Hansen’s suspension has been lifted, and he is redeployed amid an ongoing investigation into misconduct allegations
Gloucestershire, Rod Hansen, Police, Misconduct, Investigation
Gloucestershire: So, here’s the scoop. Rod Hansen, the chief constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary, just had his suspension lifted. This comes after a “change in circumstances,” and he’s been redeployed to a different role outside the county while an investigation is still going on.
He was initially suspended on October 7, 2024, after getting a gross misconduct notice from the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Both he and his chief of staff, Gary Thompson, were put on hold while they looked into some serious allegations about computer misuse and a possible data breach involving another staff member.
The investigation is trying to figure out if they followed the right policies and procedures. Just because he’s been suspended doesn’t mean he’ll face any disciplinary action; it’s more of a neutral step while they sort things out.
Now, the police and crime commissioner, Chris Nelson, decided to lift Hansen’s suspension after reviewing the situation. He mentioned that the reasons for the suspension just don’t apply anymore, thanks to the change in circumstances.
But don’t get it twisted; this doesn’t mean the investigation is over. Nelson made it clear that the IOPC is still looking into the matter. He had to review the suspension every 28 days, and after the latest check, he felt it was time to lift it.
Interestingly, the National Police Chiefs’ Council offered Hansen a new role that doesn’t involve public-facing duties, effective from January 8. Meanwhile, Maggie Blyth is still holding down the fort as the temporary chief constable, and everything in day-to-day policing is running smoothly.
As for Gary Thompson, the constabulary hasn’t shared any updates on his situation. They’re keeping things under wraps for privacy reasons, saying they can’t comment on individual employment matters.
And just to keep everyone in the loop, the IOPC confirmed that their investigation into Hansen is still ongoing. They pointed out that suspension decisions are up to the police and crime commissioner.
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