Apologetic assistant chief constable accepts ‘error of judgment’ in promotion process tampering

A long-serving senior officer has promised to rededicate himself to the “service of the public with humility” after being handed a final written warning for trying to interfere with a police promotion process. Assistant Chief Constable Naveed Malik admitted being “profoundly sorry” for his “utterly unacceptable” behaviour that left him one step “short of dismissal” from Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Mr Malik said he had let everyone down – including candidates and colleagues as well as immediate family and friends – in actions that Deputy Chief Constable Alan Baldwin said had “inevitably damaged public confidence” in the force and caused a “not inconsiderable cost to the public purse”. In a fulsome apology hours after the decision of a three-person panel at Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre in Bedfordshire, Mr Malik said “the right thing to do” was accept at the outset of the hearing that he had been guilty of “discreditable conduct at gross misconduct” level. He said: “I did not intend in any way for colleagues involved in the promotion process to be affected, but I do understand the significant impact it had on them and how wider colleagues felt following my actions. “This has led to significant embarrassment but I accept it was my own error of judgment. “I am profoundly sorry for my actions, the ill thought through nature of them and importantly the consequences of them on individuals, communities and the force.” Mr Malik faced misconduct proceedings after admitting to ordering a member of police staff, who has not been named, to call an officer ahead of a promotion process and tell them “topics for the interview process” for the chief inspector role. The second officer flagged up the behaviour, telling the colleague who phoned that they “didn`t want to listen” and wanted to be promoted “on merit”. The process comprised two stages: a presentation by the candidates to a panel and an interview conducted by a second panel. Mr Malik, one of the most senior serving black and minority ethnic officers in the country and whose father was a pioneering officer for the Muslim communities when he joined the service in 1967, was to chair the second stage of the interviews. Mr Malik added: “I would like to make clear my profound apology to all those that have been affected by my behaviour and in particular to those directly affected, which include the candidates, staff members, my fellow police officers, the chief constable and the force. “I have let down the public who have supported me in so many ways, as well as my immediate family and friends. “I have also let myself down and fallen below the high standards I have upheld for my entire 27 years of public service.” Reflecting on the decision of the independent panel to recommend a final written warning, he added: “I will take active steps to reassure colleagues and the public of my commitment to the core values and ethics of the police service. “I believe that I still have a great deal to offer and am humbled by the support of so many, who have expressed the same view.” Mr Baldwin said the facts of the case were “extremely disappointing” with the “impugned behaviour of ACC Malik utterly unacceptable”, adding :”He sought improperly to interfere with a fair and open promotion process.” But Mr Baldwin`s final decision to accept the misconduct panel`s recommendation and retain Mr Malik`s future services was in part based on an acknowledgement of the “many impressive references” supplied by officers backing him. Mr Baldwin said: “The number of senior leaders who have chosen to support ACC Malik despite his charge is overwhelming.” He also pointed to the “quite remarkable feat” that Mr Malik has no fewer than nine chief constable recommendations in a “distinguished” 27-year career that began with Warwickshire Police. But Mr Malik – who cited 20 years without a day off sick – said “in hindsight” he realised his approach to work in “juggling so many important operational roles, functions, engagement activity, coaching an