A senior Metropolitan Police officer is facing potential termination due to allegations that he accessed police information in an attempt to undermine a bullying investigation.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matthew Horne has previously faced accusations of breaching police standards between 2015 and 2016, which included throwing a stress ball at a colleague.
In January 2018, Horne was found guilty of three counts of misconduct, despite denying the allegations. He was allowed to retain his position as Deputy Chief Constable of Essex Police and received management advice.
However, Horne has now been accused of soliciting and accessing police information to support his defense in the disciplinary proceedings.
The police have confirmed that he did make use of some of the obtained information. Additionally, Horne is also facing allegations of failing to report the officer who provided him with this information.
If found guilty of gross misconduct, the senior officer may face dismissal. The hearing, commencing today and concluding on November 21, will take place at Thames Valley Police headquarters in Oxford.
The previous hearing in 2018 revealed that Horne approached Superintendent Glenn Maleary in June 2015 outside Essex Police’s control room and directed abusive language towards him. It was also reported that Horne physically pushed his colleague into a desk and later threw a stress ball at him, striking his throat.
Dorian Lovell-Pank QC, who offered recommendations on behalf of the panel, praised Horne’s impressive career and his contributions to each force he served.
Horne was promoted to his current position as the head of professional standards at the Met in 2019.
