The former chief constable of Staffordshire Police, Chris Noble, has been found to have committed gross misconduct and has been disbarred from the police service. A panel stated that he would have been dismissed if he had not resigned on the eve of a disciplinary hearing, which concluded on Thursday in his absence.
Mr Noble was suspended in August 2025 amid inquiries by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). In March 2026, the watchdog announced it had opened two additional investigations concerning his behaviour.
Details of the allegations against Mr Noble, which relate to his time at Humberside Police and Staffordshire Police, cannot be reported due to restrictions imposed by the misconduct panel. The IOPC has also stated it cannot release further information about its investigations due to "operational sensitivities" and the panel's restrictions.
Staffordshire Police has confirmed that Becky Riggs will continue in her role as acting chief constable.