Wow! Walter Mitty Chief Constable Instantly Sacked.

Because he is a liar and people did not check his credentials properly.

Seems to be a sign of the times. Is he a liar or a fantasist?

Although the interesting question is; Was he any good at the job? because he might actually have been a very good Chief Constable, despite the way he embellished his CV.

Of course, it is also possible he was rubbish at the job and that is why his his credentials were scrutinised so carefully.

Mmmm Maybe previous employment and references should have been more thoroughly checked!

That’s a good question MOnica. I’d read he was popular and the investigation followed someone realising the medal he wore had to be false because of his age at the time of the conflict.
He may have been good at his job but liars need outing. The risk is he’d lie about other things. Not a good look in a cc

M0nica

Although the interesting question is; Was he any good at the job? because he might actually have been a very good Chief Constable, despite the way he embellished his CV.

Of course, it is also possible he was rubbish at the job and that is why his his credentials were scrutinised so carefully.

They were scrutinised because someone reported him thankfully.

My son’s mate is ex military and Walter Mitty characters are despised by them. He is always on the lookout for them.

It's hard to believe. A bit like a Jim Broadbent film!

What an idiot. Did he really not think he would be found out?

i read that he was reported by one of his ex-wives...

His appointment was checked with the home office apparently. 2016 or 2017.

merlotgran

What an idiot. Did he really not think he would be found out?

Well he got away with it for a good while so he obvs thought that he had.
He even wore a fake Falklands War medal, when he was only 15 at the time of that conflict.

Some people actually believe their own lies because they have lied so much over a long period of time it has become part of who they are.
Look at our politicians!

Aveline

It's hard to believe. A bit like a Jim Broadbent film!

Not hard to believe at all. The Met police knew that Wayne Couzens was a rapist and abuser.
Nothing shocks or surprises me anymore with the police force we have.

As it's not a criminal offence he keeps his pension. He was earning around £176,000 a year.

I think the bigger question is why his credentials weren't properly checked in the first place. The fault lies with the vetting process. On this occasion the man was "just" a fantasist but he could have been another Wayne Cousins. This lax checking procedure seems to be endemic in the force which is ironic, given they are the very people charged with keeping us safe.

OldFrill

As it's not a criminal offence he keeps his pension. He was earning around £176,000 a year.

Really? I think he should lose it because he only climbed the career ladder so well because he repeatedly told lies. Surely lying in writing to the Police Service is a criminal offence.

Oreo

merlotgran
What an idiot. Did he really not think he would be found out?

Well he got away with it for a good while so he obvs thought that he had.
He even wore a fake Falklands War medal, when he was only 15 at the time of that conflict

Doesn't say much for his colleagues' powers of detection does it? 😂

I think you are wrong OldFrill

Lying on your CV is classified as “fraud by false representation” and carries a maximum 10-year jail sentence.

He was dismissed. Doesn’t that mean no pension?

No , he will get his pension - and why shouldn't he? He has served in the police force for 30 years. Presumably entirely to everyone's satisfaction because he has risen through the ranks to be able to apply for the position of Chief Constable of a police force. There is no eveidence that his lying on his CV led to any failure to fight crime or dereliction of duty, outside his lying.

He has been sacked and exposed. I see no purpose in further punishment.

I asked Google, which confirms MOnica is correct. He keeps his pension. I’m inclined to agree with MOnica that being sacked and exposed is adequate punishment.

Mae13

Yes, it beggars belief how he got away with it for so long, it is frightening really that the checks they did on this man was not very thorough which shows how often it is happening with the arrests of police who have committed serious sexual acts recently and were never suspected.

I’ve always scratched my head when reading that somebody is dismissed without pension. I can understand it if the sacking is for a serious crime involving embezzlement or physical and mental harm to others but apart from the employer’s contributions, the money has been invested by the employee so it’s their money.

I’ve know a few, not high ranking like that, they walk the walk and talk the talk, if nobody checks it’s easy to do.