Trinity barrister, Tory Putnam has been appointed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria as a Legally Qualified Person to sit in Police Misconduct Hearings.
The role of Legally Qualified Persons (LQPs), previously known as Chairs, is to support Police Misconduct Hearings. They are individuals who remain independent of the Police Authority in order to provide fair and impartial support to Misconduct Hearings chaired by a Chief Officer.
As a Legally Qualified Person, Tory's role will include identifying key evidence and points of clarity needed from the papers and oral evidence at hearing and ensuring that the proceedings are conducted in accordance with the relevant regulations, including assistance in the provision of full written reasons for the decision reached by the misconduct hearing, with the maximum sanction being dismissal from the police service.
The sitting days will be on a rotation basis, enabling Tory to continue with her busy Family and Children Law practice.