Former Derbyshire cop faces hearing over alleged racial comments

Luke Walton will be at the centre of a Derbyshire Constabulary misconduct hearing on Friday (October 27) at the force’s headquarters offices in Ripley.

The former officer will answer allegations that his conduct amounts to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour for policing and that his behaviour was “unbecoming of a police officer”.

Charing the one-day hearing will be the force’s chief constable Rachel Swann.

The full allegations against Mr Walton read: “Whilst off-duty socialising with colleagues, the officer used racially inappropriate language, was discourteous towards his colleagues and behaved in a manner unbecoming of a police officer. Furthermore, the officer failed in his duties to properly investigate and record an allegation reported to him by a member of the public and was discourteous and threatening towards them.”

It is claimed by the force that the allegations breach the standards of professional behaviour that every officer should honour in their role. The force says the allegations breach the code’s following elements: authority, respect and courtesy, discreditable conduct, equality and diversity and duties and responsibilities.

As the officer is already a former constable, a misconduct hearing is taking place which could determine the officer’s future in policing in general. Chief Cons Swann has determined that the hearing will be held in public. However, it may be necessary for certain aspects of the hearing to be heard in private or for the identity of certain individuals in the case to be anonymised to protect their identity.

The purpose of a public misconduct hearing is to show that Derbyshire police’s disciplinary system is “open and transparent”. It aims to demonstrate that the force does hold officers who breach the standards of professional behaviour, or those where misconduct is found proven, accountable for their actions.