West Yorkshire Police officers face misconduct hearing over case of murdered boy

Two West Yorkshire Police detectives and a constable are due to face a misconduct hearing on Monday over the way they investigated the murder of a three-year-old boy.
Three West Yorkshire Police officers will face allegations they committed gross misconductThree West Yorkshire Police officers will face allegations they committed gross misconduct
Three West Yorkshire Police officers will face allegations they committed gross misconduct

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Swift, Detective Inspector George Bardell and PC Oliver Scoones are alleged to have breached professional standards of behaviour over the investigation into the death of Riley Siswick.

They face allegations that they failed to conduct a thorough investigation and prepared a report to a coroner that was not "thorough enough", the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

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They are due to attend a misconduct hearing beginning on Monday, following a 10-month investigation by the IOPC.

The hearing began last September, but because of a lack of time to complete the hearing it was adjourned to March, when it faced further delay due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Riley died on February 6, 2016 at his home in Huddersfield. A referral was made to the IOPC in December 2016 by West Yorkshire Police in relation to the police investigation.

An IOPC spokesman said: "We launched an investigation which was completed in October 2017 when we concluded the three officers had a case to answer for gross misconduct.

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"West Yorkshire Police disagreed and in January 2018 we directed that a hearing take place. It will be for a panel to decide if the case against the officers is proven."

Following further information a fresh West Yorkshire Police investigation was held into Riley’s death and Kyle Campbell and Kayleigh Siswick were charged in November 2018.

On June 13 2019 Campbell, 27 at the time of sentencing, was found guilty of murder and of causing or allowing the death of a child. He was given a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years.

Siswick, who was also 27, was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

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Det Insp Bardell and Det Chief Insp Swift also face an allegation they failed to supervise an investigation appropriately.

"The allegations, if proven, could be seen as a breach of their duties and responsibilities and of conduct that could discredit the police service or undermine public confidence in policing, " said the watchdog.

There are two additional allegations against the officers that could be considered to be misconduct if proven, namely that Det Chief Insp Swift failed to follow correct policies and procedures and that PC Scoones failed to properly co-operate with social services, added the IOPC.

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