Upcoming misconduct hearings
Officer concerned: Former PC John Apter
Date: 24 September – 4 October, 2024
Time: 10.30am
Location: Hampshire and IOW Constabulary Strategic Headquarters, Leigh Road, Eastleigh
Summary of Conduct
It is alleged that:
- In 2019 Former PC Apter made a sexually suggestive, demeaning and/or derogatory comment to a Federation staff member.
- In 2020 Former PC Apter made a sexually suggestive, demeaning and/or derogatory comment to colleagues about a member of the public.
- In 2021 Former PC Apter touched the bottom of a female, Person A, over her clothing, without her consent.
It is alleged that these actions breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of “Authority, Respect and Courtesy”, “Equality and Diversity” and “Discreditable Conduct”.
It is assessed that these matters individually and/or collectively, amount to Gross Misconduct, namely a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour that, if proven, is so serious that this officer’s dismissal would have been justified if he had still been serving.
The Legally Qualified Chair (LQC) has determined at a misconduct pre-hearing that because Person A makes allegations of a sensitive nature, the public interest in the full and proper determination of the allegations does not extend to the naming of Person A.
Any representative of the media seeking to challenge the LQC’s preliminary determinations as set out in this notice shall submit any written representations to [email protected] or a request in writing for the matter to be determined by the Misconduct Panel at the outset of the Gross Misconduct Hearing.
Applications to attend the hearing have now closed as of Friday 6 September, 2024.
*****
Conditions of entry for a misconduct hearing
- Prior to being admitted to the hearing, you must proceed to the reception
desk at the force headquarters, or as otherwise directed in the published
notice. - Once there you will be required to produce confirmation of your identity to
show you are the person who has registered to attend. As a condition of
entry, persons attending, together with any bags they may have, may be
subject to a search prior to entering or re-entering the hearing room. - Sharp objects or blades will not be permitted. Police will retain the authority to seize any article found during a search which may cause harm to any person.
- Upon completion of this process, you will be provided with a visitor’s badge which must be worn until you leave the hearing, and must be returned to the reception desk when leaving the hearing.
- Any person attending the hearing is allowed entry as an observer only,
except whilst they are giving their evidence. - Members of the public and press are requested to remain silent at all times whilst the hearing is in session. No-one attending the public hearing shall either intervene in, or interrupt the running of the hearing.
- If anyone behaves in a disorderly or abusive manner or otherwise acts
inappropriately in the view of the Chair, a member of Hampshire Constabulary staff may exclude them from the remainder of the hearing and escort them from the building. - Mobile phones and other devices can be retained but must be switched off
during the hearing as they can interfere with the recording equipment for
the hearing. - Only accredited members of the press will be allowed to use text based
communications for the purposes of simultaneous reporting of the hearing
if the person chairing or conducting the hearing is satisfied that it does not interfere with the orderly conduct of hearing. - Laptops and tablets may only be used by accredited members of the press
- Cameras must not be brought inside the building. Camera functions on other devices must not be operated inside the building. The taking of pictures, video or audio recording is forbidden within the hearing rooms, or within the force headquarters building. It is requested that photographs are not taken of any person entering or leaving the building. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in you being directed to leave and escorted off the premises.
- Smoking is not allowed inside the force headquarters.
- The regulations governing misconduct hearings state that the hearing chair may also impose further conditions of entry in addition to those set out in this document.
- If this arises the further conditions will be published on the website prior to the hearing. This can include reporting restrictions on the press and public that must be adhered to in order to be granted access to the hearing.
- Should anyone breach these conditions of entry, or any of the conditions set by the hearing chair they will be asked to leave and will be escorted from the premises. The person may also be excluded from any future hearings.
How to request to attend
Make a note of the hearing you’d like to attend, then click ‘Start’ below to complete our simple online request form.
Members of the public can book for any hearing day plus any extra days if the hearing is more than one day.
The deadline to request entry to a hearing is midday on the working day before the hearing starts.
Average completion time: five minutes