Paul Chadwick

Introduction

Paul Chadwick is a former police constable who served with Gwent Police in south-east Wales and retired from the force in June 2021. His exit from policing was followed by a criminal and a disciplinary reckoning: in December 2021 he was jailed after pleading guilty to two counts of misconduct in public office, having admitted entering inappropriate relationships with two women he met during the course of his duties while he was a serving officer; and in September 2026 an accelerated misconduct hearing held in his absence found two allegations of discreditable conduct proven, dismissing him from the force and clearing the way for his placement on the College of Policing’s Barred List, which prevents him from working in policing again.

Background Information

Chadwick worked as a police constable with Gwent Police. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) carried out two investigations into his conduct following a referral from the force in May 2020 and a further referral in November 2020. At the end of its investigations, the watchdog referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised the charges against him.

The conduct at the centre of the case took place in 2020. Chadwick admitted having entered inappropriate relationships, while a serving officer, with two women he met during the course of his duties — one between January and April 2020, and another between dates in May of that year. The IOPC recorded that his actions had “impacted heavily on two women, one of whom was in a highly vulnerable situation”.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Adjudicated. Chadwick’s convictions on two counts of misconduct in public office are a matter of court record — he pleaded guilty to both at Newport Crown Court in October 2021 — and the account below rests on those convictions and the regulator’s response. The discreditable-conduct findings recorded against him in September 2026 are separate regulatory findings, made by a Gwent Police misconduct panel on the civil standard (the balance of probabilities), not criminal convictions.

Chadwick admitted to having entered into inappropriate relationships for periods in 2020, while a serving officer, with two women he met during the course of his duties. He pleaded guilty to two charges at a hearing at Newport Crown Court in October 2021. At Cardiff Crown Court on Monday 20 December 2021, a judge sentenced him to 18 months’ imprisonment.

Although Chadwick had retired from Gwent Police in June 2021, the IOPC noted that it would be for the force to take forward disciplinary proceedings against the former officer. Those proceedings culminated almost five years later in an accelerated misconduct hearing, arranged and held by Gwent Police, dealing with the conduct of a man who was no longer a serving officer.

Public Reaction and Consequences

IOPC Director for Wales Catrin Evans said: “Cases where officers abuse their position for sexual purposes are among the most serious examples of corruption that we investigate and have real potential to impact on public confidence in the police. Regrettably, Paul Chadwick chose to abuse the position of trust placed in him and his actions have impacted heavily on two women, one of whom was in a highly vulnerable situation.” She added: “I hope this outcome sends a clear message to any officer who misconduct themselves in such a way, that they face serious consequences and will be held to account.”

When the disciplinary process concluded in September 2026, Assistant Chief Constable John Wade, who chaired the hearing, said: “Chadwick’s disgraceful actions undermine public confidence in policing.” He added: “The vast majority of our officers, staff and volunteers work hard every day to serve and reassure our communities, and behaviour like this will never be tolerated.”

Current Status

Chadwick did not attend the accelerated misconduct hearing, which was held in Cwmbran on Thursday 10 September 2026, where he faced two allegations of discreditable conduct; both were found as proven. In an update to its original news release, the IOPC stated: “At a misconduct hearing arranged and held by Gwent Police on 10 September 2026, gross misconduct was proven against former PC Chadwick, after he was found to have breached the standard of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct, on two counts. He would have been dismissed had he not already retired and will be placed on the police Barred List.” Wales Updates reported that the former officer, already serving a prison sentence for misconduct in public office, has been dismissed from the force and will be added to the national Barred List. His name will now be placed on the College of Policing’s Barred List, which prevents him from working in policing again.

Impact on Their Career/Life

The combined outcomes severed Chadwick’s connection to policing at every level: an 18-month prison sentence on his guilty pleas to two counts of misconduct in public office, findings of gross misconduct proven against him at the 2026 hearing after he was found to have breached the standard of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct on two counts, formal dismissal from Gwent Police notwithstanding his earlier retirement, and placement on the College of Policing’s Barred List, which prevents him from working in policing again. The IOPC underlined that cases where officers abuse their position for sexual purposes are among the most serious examples of corruption it investigates, and it reiterated to police officers and staff, current or former, that a whistleblowing line exists for reporting concerns of wrongdoing where a criminal offence may have been committed or conduct may justify disciplinary proceedings.