DCC to face questions over abusive behaviour towards junior officers

A senior officer seconded to the National Crime Agency (NCA) will face a misconduct hearing later this month over alleged abusive behaviour towards colleagues. A document released by Essex Police says Deputy Chief Constable Matthew Horne will answer allegations of verbally and physically attacking two junior colleagues on unknown dates between June 2015 and May 2016. One of the allegations states that Mr Horne – currently on secondment as deputy director general of the National Crime Agency – threw a “rubber stress ball” at Chief Superintendent Carl O’Malley, which hit him in the throat and left a red mark. This allegedly occurred in Mr Horne’s office at Essex Police Headquarters while Assistant Chief Constable Maurice Mason was present. He was also accused of pushing the same officer with both hands “for no apparent reason” in a separate office, causing Chief Supt O’Malley to fall onto a desk, while Mr Mason was in the room. The third allegation states that while Mr Horne attended Essex Police’s Force Control Room (FCR) in Chelmsford, he “angrily swore at” Superintendent Glenn Maleary. While confronting Supt Maleary about the performance of the FCR, he allegedly leant in with clenched fists and said he had to leave before he punched something. The Independent Police Complaints Commission investigated the accusations in July last year and concluded Mr Horne had a case to answer for gross misconduct. In August, it was revealed that Mr Horne would be questioned over three allegations that he verbally and physically abused fellow officers at Essex Police. He was found to have no case to answer regarding a fourth allegation. Mr Horne’s gross misconduct hearing will begin on January 15 and is expected to last six days.