The Suffolk Hyde Affair - Doc 160 Lowestoft Fire Consultants

Suffolk County Council

Fire Service

M Hyde Esq
Lowestoft

KES/DISC/Hyde
ACFO Seager
(01473) 588939

10th May 1999

Dear Mr Hyde,

Fire Services (Discipline) Regulations, 1985

I write further in relation to the disciplinary hearing which will be convened to hear the charge against you.
I am still awaiting details of the witnesses you intend to call in your defence. I have asked the Personnel Manager to make arrangements for the hearing, but she is unable to progress the matter at the moment because she does not know whom to order to attend on your behalf.

Whilst I initially indicated my preparedness to await such notification from you, I believe that a reasonable period of time has now elapsed. I should point out that the guidance notes to the Fire Services (Discipline) Regulations, 1985 permit a hearing to be arranged without the accused’s consent, subject to sufficient notice of a date, time and venue being given. I would not want to do this, however, unless I felt I had no alternative.
Please let me have the names of the witnesses you intend to call within 7 days of the date of this letter in order that the hearing can be convened without further delay. If this causes you genuine difficulty, please let me know as soon as possible.

I have copied this letter to Mr Craig Jones of Thompsons, and I enclose a further copy for you to pass to your union representative, Mr Wigglesworth.


Yours sincerely

K. E. Seager,
Assistant Chief Fire Officer (Technical)
Brigade Investigating Officer
Enc. Letter for Union representative