Questions to answer over lifting of chief constable’s suspension and financial mismanagement

Three of Gloucestershire’s MPs have written to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire, demanding to know more about his role in the lifting of the suspension of Chief Constable Rod Hansen whilst he is investigated for alleged gross misconduct. 

It comes as Gloucestershire Constabulary has announced it will make police staff posts redundant because it needs to find an extra £12.3m by the end of the next financial year (March 2026). 

PCC Chris Nelson made a public statement in October 2024, confirming that he had suspended CC Hansen after the Independent Office for Police Conduct launched an investigation into his behaviour.  

CC Hansen’s Chief of Staff was also suspended, and only then was it made clear that the Deputy Chief Constable had also been suspended and chose to retire, leaving a leadership vacuum at the top of the force.  

In January a report was published by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, stating that Mr Nelson had since lifted CC Hansen’s suspension, although the investigation continues.  

Mr Nelson was quoted as saying it was because of a “change in circumstances”, and “the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has offered Mr Hansen a redeployment to a non-public facing role.” 

Cameron Thomas, MP for Tewkesbury, later discovered that Mr Nelson had contacted the NPCC with such a proposal back in October, and that Gloucestershire Constabulary will continue to pay CC Hansen’s sizeable salary despite his deployment outside the county. 

Roz Savage, MP for South Cotswolds and Max Wilkinson, MP for Cheltenham joined Cameron in writing to the PCC, requesting clarity and transparency about a matter they perceive as being in the public interest.  

Amongst their concerns is that this appears to be a unique situation, and there needs to be parity of treatment for all officers, or public faith in the constabulary could be undermined. 

They also want to know why Gloucestershire’s council tax payers are continuing to fund a chief constable’s considerable salary whilst he is working elsewhere in the country, particularly at a time when the Constabulary has a multi-million pound shortfall in its budget. 

Cameron said: “There are questions to answer regarding the circumstances of CC Hansen’s redeployment, the financial shortfall and with the leadership of our constabulary. 

“Residents are proud of our courageous, selfless police officers and staff, but there has been too much uncertainty at the top for too long. 

“Police staff are vital to the operational output of the constabulary, but instead of being thanked for their service, they will now be worried about their futures because of somebody else’s financial mismanagement.  

“The leadership situation at the force has been shambolic and I know that it is affecting morale. My thoughts are very much with our robust officers and staff, working to keep us safe despite the perpetual problems at the top of the organisation.”