Top police officer and former SAS soldier 'suspended over gross misconduct'

Gloucestershire's top police officer, Chief Constable Rod Hansen, has been temporarily removed from his position while a probe into claims of serious misconduct is carried out. The county's Police and Crime Commissioner, Chris Nelson, has confirmed the suspension, which will be investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The IOPC is looking into an alleged breach of professional standards, prompting Mr Nelson to temporarily remove from his role. A search is now underway to find an acting chief constable to lead the force in the meantime.

In a statement, Mr Nelson said: "Earlier today, the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) informed Chief Constable Rod Hansen that it is investigating an alleged breach of standards of professional behaviour."

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"I have decided to suspend Mr Hansen from his role with Gloucestershire Constabulary pending the outcome of this investigation. I will emphasise that the decision to suspend is a neutral act. It has no bearing on any indication of guilt and should not be seen as such."

"I have spoken to His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Andy Cooke, after taking this decision. The Executive Board will provide continuity for the organisation.", reports .

"My team and I are now working with other colleagues in policing to nationally identify a temporary Chief Constable who can lead Gloucestershire Constabulary during this period," stated the Police Crime Commissioner in light of the recent shocking developments.

"I know that this will come as a shock to many in the county, especially to our hard working officers and staff, and to our partner organisations, but it is right that any allegations are dealt with consistently and investigated properly, thoroughly and swiftly. I have every confidence that the IOPC will do exactly that."

"It will be up to the IOPC to lead on any communication about the investigation that it considers necessary."

"In the meantime, I would like to assure residents and criminals alike that the Constabulary will be operating as normal, keeping our residents safe, and preventing and detecting crime."

Meanwhile, an IOPC spokesperson declared: "We can confirm we are investigating conduct allegations against the Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary, Rod Hansen. The investigation follows a referral in August from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire."

Further adding that a gross misconduct notice has been served on the Chief Constable advising him that his conduct is under investigation. This notice doesn't necessarily entail that disciplinary action will occur, they clarified.

"The investigation concerns his handling of an allegation against a member of staff, and whether relevant policies and procedures were subsequently followed. We have today (Monday) served a gross misconduct notice on the Chief Constable to advise him his conduct is subject to investigation. Such a notice does not necessarily mean any disciplinary proceedings will follow. Our investigation is ongoing."

Mr Hansen was appointed as the deputy chief constable in May 2013 and ascended to the top position in May 2017, becoming the 16th individual in the Constabulary's history to hold the role.

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Educated in England, Canada, and Ireland, Mr Hansen holds a degree in geography and geology.

Prior to his police service, he served with the Special Air Service's A Squadron (V). His policing career began over three decades ago at Avon and Somerset Constabulary in South Gloucestershire.

Throughout his distinguished service, Mr Hansen has undertaken various roles, from patrol inspector in central Bristol to District Commander for Bath and North East Somerset.

His extensive career also includes leading the force surveillance team and undertaking reviews of child protection arrangements, in addition to helping establish a ten-year joint venture company providing services to three public sector bodies, including the Constabulary.

As a seasoned investigator, he's delved into fatalities in two other forces and held key roles in serious and organised crime probes. Mr Hansen also boasts experience as a strategic firearms commander, having overseen more than 300 firearms incidents and served as a national assessor for this speciality for numerous years.

Since 1998, Mr Hansen has been a hostage negotiator and for several years was the South West Regional Co-ordinator for negotiations. He directed the regional negotiators course and in October 2003, trained Greek police service negotiators ahead of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

In 2010, he founded the International Police Response Cadre (IPRC), a squad of specially trained coppers working alongside the military, ready to be dispatched at a moment's notice to high threat locations worldwide. This included aiding British overseas territories hit by hurricanes and dealing with the ensuing humanitarian crises.

Mr Hansen has also served as the Chief Police Advisor to the military Joint Task Force Headquarters (JTFHQ) and was part of a multi-agency team of non-military advisors collaborating closely with colleagues from the Stabilisation Unit, Department for International Development, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and various volunteer and charitable groups like the International Red Cross.

His international assignments have spanned from formulating the next stage of the United Nations (AMISOM) initiative in Somalia to fortify security across the Horn of Africa to engaging in humanitarian tasks in the Masai Mara, Kenya, which included aiding Kenyan and Ugandan Rapid Deployment Forces with flood relief, food aid, malaria control, and decreasing refugee numbers.

Moreover, Hansen played a pivotal role in rapidly establishing a UK police unit to support British military operations aimed at evacuating UK citizens from Libya amidst the regimes collapse. Since 2012, he has taken on the mantle as the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for mounted units.

Previously acting as the head of police canine units for an extended period, Hansen now heads the national aviation department, managing the deployment of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and the strategic use of drones by the police force. An avid Shotokan Karate devotee, Rod still dedicates time to train and instruct at a fifth Dan level, occasionally teaching at a Constabulary-run club.

Since taking charge as Chief Constable of Gloucestershire, he has been praised for pioneering a revolutionary leadership and welfare initiative that has reportedly revolutionised the working environment within the Constabulary, labelled "astonishing" by National academic authorities.

In 2018, Rod initiated a groundbreaking self-leadership scheme designed for local youngsters. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has today verified Mr Hansen's suspension.