Watchdogs have overruled the Metropolitan Police to order a gross misconduct inquiry into one of the force’s most senior officers, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Independent Office for Police Conduct orders an inquiry into accusations that Matt Horne (Deputy Assistant Commissioner) illegally violated a bullying investigation against himself at Essex Police.
Scotland Yard bosses refused the IOPC’s initial recommendation but have now been overruled. Mr Horne was appointed in 2019 as the Met’s £150,000-a-year head of professional standards – the so-called ‘Line of Duty squad’ – despite being previously found guilty of three charges of misconduct while at Essex Police.
In a fresh blow to Commissioner Cressida Dick (pictured), watchdogs have overruled the Metropolitan Police to order a gross misconduct inquiry into one of the force’s most senior officers
Ms Dick supported Mr Horne under questioning in Westminster earlier this year, telling MPs her colleague was ‘a very capable man’ who ‘has been doing an excellent job since he has been in the Met’.
Mr Horne, who is also facing a criminal investigation over the bullying probe allegations, is now head of ‘futures work’ at the Met after being relieved of his previous job while under investigation.
The matter is being investigated by the criminal justice system. It involves allegations that Clark illegally obtained information from City of London Police and gave it to Horne. He will also face a gross misconduct hearing by City of London Police who agreed with the IOPC’s recommendation.
An IOPC spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that a former senior City of London Police (CoLP) officer and a senior Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer will face gross misconduct proceedings as the result of an IOPC investigation.
“Our investigation was started by a complaint that was filed against the former CoLP officer. In 2018, he had accessed confidential data that was then passed to a high ranking MPS officer.
‘We also investigated an allegation that he disposed of his personal mobile phone after he became aware of our investigation.
‘We determined he had a case to answer for potential breaches of police professional standards. CoLP agreed to our recommendation. The force will hold these disciplinary proceedings.
‘We also investigated the senior MPS officer for allegations that in 2018 he… received and made use of that confidential information as part of disciplinary proceedings.
‘We decided he had a case to answer for potential breaches of police professional standards. After the MPS disagreed with our recommendation, last month, we directed the force to hold disciplinary proceedings.’