Staffordshire's Chief Constable Chris Noble resigned Tuesday, just ahead of a scheduled gross misconduct hearing. The resignation was submitted via a letter to Ben Adams, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire.
Noble had been suspended in August while the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) conducted inquiries into his behavior. The watchdog confirmed in March that it had opened two additional investigations concerning Noble.
The misconduct hearing commenced on Wednesday morning in Noble's absence and has since been adjourned. The IOPC stated that the chair of the panel has directed that no further details regarding the allegations can be released at this time, citing the sensitivity of the matters and operational reasons.
Noble was appointed chief constable of Staffordshire Police in 2021, following the retirement of the previous chief. Prior to his role in Staffordshire, he served as the assistant chief constable of Humberside Police.
Following Noble's resignation, Ben Adams confirmed that Becky Riggs will continue to serve as the acting chief constable for Staffordshire Police. A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police indicated that commenting further would be inappropriate due to the ongoing misconduct proceedings.