[2025] EWHC 2684 (KB)

Mr Adcock retired from the Norfolk Constabulary in October 2008 after 31 years’ service at the rank of Chief Superintendent. He had known Andrew Breeze for many years and they were both members of a rambling society.

Mr Adcock had no formal role to play in the police operation but had comments to make about two of the officers involved in the case, Inspector Paul Cunningham and Acting Chief Constable Simon Bailey. He stated:

“At this time the Constabulary were investigating what officers involved described as their most high profile fraud case yet; both Paul Cunningham and Simon Bailey made passing comments to me. They had emphasised that this case had to succeed and that it was important that the case did not fail. It was a most important enquiry and also the first time that the NHS Police force had corroborated (sic) together in this way. ”

And

“If I bumped into Paul in the canteen, then this was sometimes the subject of conversation between us. I was well aware of Paul’s stance on the investigation and what he wanted the outcome to be.”

And

“My strong impression of Simon Bailey at this time was one of a naive manager who had firmly formed the view that Operation Meridian was going to expose extensive fraud and lead to high profile convictions.”

Mr Adcock set out his view of Inspector Cunningham having known him for many years. He made some irrelevant, highly critical comments about his character, business interests and other matters. Some of the matters were so obviously irrelevant it is surprising that they were included in a statement.

Mr Adcock described Inspector Cunningham as a maverick, a “dyed in the wool CID man” with little respect for senior officers.

Mr Adcock explained how he came into contact with the investigation as he was the treasurer of the rambling club he and Mr Breeze were both members of and there was suggestion made that he had used his rank to pressure a more junior officer into allowing Mr Breeze to access some frozen money in his account. As part of this complaint he had a regulation 9 disciplinary notice served on him by Acting Chief Constable Simon Bailey. Mr Adcock stated that he was of the firm belief that this was part of efforts to try and isolate Andrew Breeze from his friends (Mr Adcock being a friend).

Mr Adcock gave the view that:

“It was very clear that from a very early stage in the investigation senior officers had decided on Andrew's guilt.”

And

“It is just very unfortunate that Operation Meridian was so badly conceived of and managed, with senior officers’ minds set from the beginning.”

Mr Adcock had no detailed knowledge of the investigation into his friend and clearly did not like Inspector Cunningham or Acting Chief Constable Simon Bailey (not helped by the disciplinary notice). He made no comments about DS Brownsell or any other officer engaged in the inquiry. Insofar as Mr Adcock formed a view about the approach of senior officers to the inquiry it was that they believed in the Claimant’s guilt. There is no hint or suggestion the officers involved thought the Claimants were innocent and/or that there was not sufficient evidence to prove their guilt.