A Northwich ex-cop has been found guilty of gross misconduct.
Former Inspector Michelle Boyd resigned before being sacked but was found to have shared sensitive police information relating to a person in custody with a member of the public, and later ordered no further action in the case when she had a clear conflict of interest.
After pleading guilty, Boyd receive a six-month suspended prison sentence, unpaid work, and a mental health treatment requirement.
The police misconduct hearing concluded in February 2025, but the outcome was supressed to avoid prejudicing the then ongoing criminal proceedings.
Cheshire Chief Constable, Mark Roberts, ruled Boyd’s conduct while still a high-ranking police officer had been ‘a malign influence’ on her more junior officers.
He also confirmed Boyd had resigned from the force ahead of the hearing, but if she had not, she would have been dismissed without notice at the conclusion.
She has also been placed on the College of Policing barred list, meaning she will never be readmitted to any force.
The investigation found she had breached six of the force’s Standards of Professional Behaviour: honesty and integrity; authority; respect and courtesy; orders and instructions; confidentiality; and discreditable conduct.
These were breached in relation to three allegations made against her, including accessing police systems and disclosing sensitive and confidential information to a member of the public without a lawful policing purpose.
This happened several times between August 2022 and September 2023.
It also found when reviewing a criminal case in March 18, 2023, Boyd shared sensitive police information relating to a person in police custody with a member of the public, and later ordered no further action though she had a clear conflict of interest.
She was also found to have sent discriminatory and offensive messages to a member of the public. In the hearing’s written conclusion, Chief Constable Roberts said: “I have considered the potential outcomes available, and I consider dismissal without notice is the most appropriate sanction in this case had (former) Inspector Michelle Boyd not previously resigned.
“As a result, (former) Inspector Michelle Boyd shall be placed on the barred list, which will prevent her re-entry into the profession.”
“She accepts all the facts and also accepts her conduct amounted to gross misconduct.”
“In applying the force’s organisational justice model, this has a number of aggravating features.”
“It was not a heat of the moment lapse; it was a cynical, persistent abuse of her position in sharing information when she had absolutely no legitimate policing purpose to do so with, to an individual who had no right to receive it.”
“Furthermore, she was an experienced officer of inspector rank who should have been an example to her staff, not a malign influence.”
“To compound this, she was involving herself in investigations which an officer acting with integrity would have recognised she should have stayed completely away from.”
“The content and tone of her messages belies her contempt for the oath she took as a police officer.”
If only all forces were as willing to hold their officers to account, rather than closing ranks, the public might actually regain some trust in the institution.
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