Complaints procedure
Complain about the Civil Nuclear Constabulary's service, staff or police officers.
Complain about the CNC’s service or staff
Fill in a Professional Standards Department or send it to:
and email it to our
Professional Standards Department
Civil Nuclear Constabulary
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 3DB
Complain about a police officer in the CNC
If you want to make a complaint about a police officer in the CNC you can:
- go to the police unit on site to make your complaint
- contact the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) who will forward your complaint to the right police service
- fill in a
Further help with making a complaint
Visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau who will tell you if you’ve got grounds for a complaint. They can also help you to make the complaint.
Your solicitor or local law centre can advise you or help you make a complaint.
If your complaint might be about a racial incident, you can contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Misconduct hearings
The Civil Nuclear Constabulary will publish information about public misconduct or special case hearings here. Both procedures deal with allegations of gross misconduct.
All misconduct or special case hearings should be held in public to improve transparency and accountability and to ensure public confidence. There may be circumstances when it will be necessary and appropriate for all or parts of the proceedings to be held in private. In such cases notice giving reasons will be provided to the public.
Misconduct hearings are heard by a panel of three, most typically a legally qualified Chair, assisted by an officer of superintendent rank and an independent lay-person. The facts will be heard by the panel, often with the assistance of live witnesses to enable the panel to make a determination.
Special case hearings are heard by the Chief Constable, who will consider the evidence available from reports and documentary evidence. Witnesses do not normally attend special case hearings.
In cases where the officer has been found to have committed gross misconduct under either process, the sanctions available are:
- dismissal without notice
- dismissal with notice
- final written warning
- written warning
- management advice
The public will be given a minimum of five working notice of any forthcoming misconduct or special case hearing. Please note the following:
- anyone not preregistered will not be admitted
- anyone attending must arrive a minimum of one hour of the stated time with appropriate formal photographic identification
- audio and video recordings are not permitted
- the use of live, text based communications for the purpose of simultaneous reporting will only be permitted if the person chairing or conducting proceedings is satisfied that it does not interfere with the orderly conduct of the proceedings
- any behaviour deemed to interfere or likely to interfere with proceedings will lead to exclusion from the hearing
- animals, with the exclusion of guide/assistance dogs are not permitted in the hearing room
- there is limited visitor parking available
- catering facilities are available at the individual’s expense
Upcoming misconduct hearings
Inspector Stuart Bruce will answer allegations that his conduct amounts to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour, in respect of:
- Honesty and Integrity, having displayed a lack of integrity in his role as a police inspector
- Authority, Respect & Courtesy, in failing to act with self-control and to treat colleagues with courtesy and respect; making disparaging and disrespectful comments about the competence of CNC and its officers; behaving inappropriately towards female members of staff
- Discreditable Conduct, in that the said conduct was likely to bring discredit upon and undermine public confidence in the police service
The conduct as alleged, if found proved, would amount to Gross Misconduct.
The allegations are:
- Upon meeting a new, female member of staff for the first time, the Officer made disparaging remarks about CNC and certain employees and senior officers including a chief superintendent, a temporary superintendent and a chief inspector
- The officer further made comments of a sexual nature and/or used sexual innuendo when speaking to female members of staff and asked inappropriate questions about personal life
The hearing starts on Monday 14 October 2019 and is listed for five days.
It will be held at 10am in the conference centre, Culham Science Park, Abingdon Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3DB.
There will be limited seating for members of the press and public. If you wish to attend please register by sending an email to press.office@cnc.pnn.police.uk with the following details: Name, Date of Birth, address, email address and phone number.
If you wish to apply for a seat, please ensure that you have read the detail regarding condition of entry which is a requirement on the booking form. Please note also that photographic ID is required to gain access to Culham Science Park.
You are expected to arrive at least one hour before the start of proceedings with your formal photographic ID to enable staff to complete the administrative process and guide you to the seating area.
No recording or filming of these proceedings is allowed, and there must be no live tweeting. Attendees may be searched prior to entry.
The venue has limited free parking and refreshment facilities available at the individual’s expense.
No Smoking, food, or pets are allowed in the building, other than guide dogs.
Police Constable Stephen Gallagher will answer allegations that his conduct amounts to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour, in respect of:
(a) Honesty and Integrity, having failed to disclose relevant information on a vetting questionnaire which he knew he should have disclosed.
(b) Discreditable Conduct, in that the said conduct was likely to bring discredit upon and undermine public confidence in the police service.
The conduct as alleged, if found proved, would amount to Misconduct.
The allegations are: When completing a vetting questionnaire, the Officer failed to disclose a previous Military Disciplinary finding and an extant Final Written Warning.
That he signed a declaration knowing that he had not declared the previous Military Disciplinary finding and an extant Final Written Warning.
The hearing starts on Monday 21 October 2019 and is listed for two days.
It will be held at 10am in the conference centre, Culham Science Park, Abingdon Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3DB.
There will be limited seating for members of the press and public. If you wish to attend please register by no later than 16:00 on Friday 18 October 2019 by sending an email to press.office@cnc.pnn.police.uk with the following details: Name, Date of Birth, address, email address and phone number.
If you wish to apply for a seat, please ensure that you have read the detail regarding condition of entry which is a requirement on the booking form. Please note also that photographic ID is required to gain access to Culham Science Park.
You are expected to arrive at least one hour before the start of proceedings with your formal photographic ID to enable staff to complete the administrative process and guide you to the seating area.
No recording or filming of these proceedings is allowed, and there must be no live tweeting. Attendees may be searched prior to entry.
The venue has limited free parking and refreshment facilities available at the individual’s expense.
No Smoking, food, or pets are allowed in the building, other than guide dogs.