Suspended Northants police chief faces call to stand down

Chief constable Nick Adderley was suspended following a complaint about medal wearing.

A senior Labour poltician has called for a chief constable who is under investigation to resign.

Nick Adderley, who leads Northamptonshire Police, has been suspended following a complaint about medals he had been seen wearing.

The opposition leader of West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) said he should step down because "people need someone they can look up to".

She also wants the police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) to resign.

The complaint allegedly relates to a medal awarded to those who served in the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina in 1982, which began when Mr Adderley was aged 15, initially reported by The Sun.

The chief constable previously said: "Coming from a military family, I wear all my medals with pride and have always worn the two medals my brothers gave me to wear when one became critically ill and one emigrated, alongside my own."

He has been suspended while an inquiry by the Independent Office of Police Conduct takes place.

WNC labour leader Wendy Randall wants both Nick Adderley and PFCC Stephen Mold to resign.

Wendy Randall, who leads the WNC Labour group, said: "For me, he needs to resign. We need somebody there people can look up to."

Ms Randall said the PFCC, Stephen Mold, should also go. Mr Mold admitted an "error of judgment" after appointing a friend as interim fire chief, but he survived a vote of no confidence.

She said: "Mr Mold seems untouchable. There seems to be a complete arrogance around [Mr Adderley and Mr Mold], it seems to be a rule for them and a rule for everybody else and that just shouldn't be allowed."

Matt Keane, the Labour group leader on North Northamptonshire Council also called for Mr Mold to step down, saying he had "lost control".

The local branch of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said it could not comment on a live investigation.

Sam Dobbs, Northamptonshire Police Federation chair, said: "Nick Adderley is a leader who we respect"

Sam Dobbs, who chairs the Northamptonshire branch, said: "Nick Adderley is a chief constable and leader who we respect and work well with for the benefit of our more than 1400 members.

"The chief will now be subject to the stringent process set out in police regulations which our members will recognise as being tough, lengthy and gruelling, in the higher interests of integrity and accountability."