A Nottinghamshire Police officer is being investigated by a watchdog over the “extent of involvement” he reportedly had with Nottingham Forest.
The officer has been served a gross misconduct notice over an accusation he was involved in matters related to a sports club “without a policing purpose”, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced on Thursday (February 19).
This is said to have included the force’s seizure of a vehicle belonging to someone working at the club, which Nottinghamshire Live understands to be Nottingham Forest.
Nottinghamshire Live is not naming the officer at this stage. There is no allegation of wrongdoing related to Nottingham Forest.
The IOPC said the investigation follows a mandatory referral from the force and remains at a “relatively early stage”.
“We can confirm that we have served a gross misconduct notice to a Nottinghamshire Police officer as part of an ongoing independent investigation into the extent of their involvement with a sports club,” a spokesperson said.
“The notice has informed the officer that they are under investigation, at the level of gross misconduct, because there is an indication they may have been involved in matters linked to the club without a policing purpose, including the force’s seizure of a vehicle belonging to someone working at the club.
“The investigation is still at a relatively early stage and the serving of misconduct notices does not mean that disciplinary proceedings will follow.
“At the end of our investigation, we will decide if any individual should face proceedings based on whether we find a case to answer.”
A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police said: “As this investigation is being led by the IOPC, it would be inappropriate for us to comment.”
A spokesperson for Nottingham Forest said: “Nottingham Forest have not been informed of any investigation by the IOPC.
“The club also notes that there has been no allegation of wrongdoing made against the club or any of its employees. If the club is asked for any information by the IOPC it will, of course, co-operate in full.”