A gross misconduct hearing for Gloucestershire Chief Constable Rod Hansen will begin on 16 July 2026 at an independent venue in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. This type of formal hearing is held when a senior official is accused of a serious breach of professional standards.
According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the case focuses on claims that the chief did not act correctly after a data breach in 2022. It is alleged that he failed to take enough action when a staff member was suspected of searching police records for personal information without permission.
Hansen was first suspended in October 2024 by the Police and Crime Commissioner for the county. Since that time, taxpayers have been paying his yearly salary of approximately £150,000 for nearly 18 months while also paying for a temporary chief to run the force.
Maggie Blyth is currently leading the local police force while the case continues into the week following the initial hearing date. Earlier in March 2026, the police watchdog informed Hansen that he had no case to answer regarding a separate investigation into how staff were recruited.
The hearing in the town will be open to the public, and the outcome could result in the chief constable losing his job. More information about how residents can attend or watch the proceedings will be released closer to the start date.
