A chief constable who abruptly resigned the day before a misconduct hearing would have been fired had he not already quit, a panel has found.
Christopher Noble was suspended from the top job at Staffordshire Police in August 2025.
However, the 52-year-old resigned on Tuesday in a letter to Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Ben Adams, the day before a misconduct hearing was due to begin.
The hearing went ahead at Staffordshire conference centre in his absence, and concluded on Thursday.
The panel found the allegations against Mr Noble proven.
However, the details of his misconduct cannot be reported due to restrictions imposed by the panel.
Former parliamentary commissioner for standards Kathryn Stone, the chair of the panel, said that Mr Noble had breached the police’s Standards of Professional Behaviour.
Ms Stone, of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, said the breaches were so serious as to be gross misconduct.
She said that Mr Noble would have been dismissed if he had not already resigned.
Mr Noble was appointed to the chief constable role after moving to the force from Humberside Police in 2021.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Adams said: “I can confirm that yesterday I received chief constable Chris Noble’s resignation, which I have accepted with immediate effect.
“Becky Riggs will remain as Staffordshire Police’s acting chief constable.”
Mr Noble will be placed on the barred list, which prevents him from working in policing and other law enforcement bodies in the future.
IOPC backs calls for change
The Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is backing calls for an overhaul to the way senior police officers are chosen following the case.
The IOPC said that Mr Noble would have been dismissed without notice on Thursday if he had not resigned.
It said it is continuing to investigate “other allegations relating to Mr Noble both in and outside his policing duties”.
The finding against him comes just weeks after a Police Leadership Commission report, which concluded that standards in the upper ranks of police in both England and Wales fell short of those that the public and police officers deserve.
“The report recommended an overhaul to promotion processes for chief officers to ensure transparency and fairness, for more investment in leadership training, and improvements to identifying and fast-tracking talent. I support these proposals,” IOPC Director General Rachel Watson said.
“As the police complaints watchdog, we are uniquely placed to identify issues, areas of concern, and ways to improve policing.
“I do believe most chief officers do a good job in challenging circumstances. But too often our investigations are uncovering longstanding, unreported concerns about their behaviour. Concerns need to be raised and heard long before someone is considered suitable for appointment to the chief officer rank.
“Police leaders set the culture for police forces so it’s vital the right people occupy chief officer positions – people with effective leadership skills and who come from diverse backgrounds, including experience away from policing. People should not reach chief officer ranks simply because their face ‘fits’.”
Mr Noble was one of eight serving or former chief constables under misconduct investigation or who were awaiting linked proceedings.
The IOPC has set up an email address and phone number for anyone who would like to speak to its investigators about the case.
Anyone with information can get in touch via 0300 303 5734 or [email protected].
