The Suffolk Hyde Affair - Doc 178 Sizewell Fire Team

Suffolk County Council

Fire Service

A Wigglesworth Esq
c/o Lowestoft Fire Station
Lowestoft
NR32 2QA

PER/SD/KMD
Miss S. Davies
(01473) 588872

14th May 1999

Dear Mr Wigglesworth,

Fire Services (Discipline) Regulations, 1985
Mr. M. Hyde

Thank you for your letter dated 12th May, 1999. I note the list of witnesses you would like to call at the discipline hearing concerning Mr. Hyde.

The arrangements for calling of witnesses at disciplinary hearings are set out in the Guidance Notes to the Discipline Regulations (see Annex C para 3 and Annex D para 7). In particular, paragraph 7 of Annex D makes clear that the subject of the hearing may give names of witnesses of relevant facts in order that these people may be called to give evidence at the hearing.

It appears to me that your list of proposed witnesses is stretching the definition of "witnesses of relevant facts" a little far.

I have asked a member of my department to proceed with arrangements for the hearing and you and Mr. Hyde will be notified of the date as soon as possible. However, unless within 7 days of the date of this letter you are able to offer some clear justification as to the relevant facts witnessed by the first four people named on your list (i.e. Mr. M. Alcock, Mr. S. smith, Mr K. Seager and Mr. C. Hodge), I will not be notifying these people of their required attendance at the hearing. Witnesses 5- 12 will, however, be ordered to attend. Rest assured that you will be given ample opportunity at the hearing to state your case, on Mr. Hyde’s behalf, and. If it becomes apparent that any or all of the four people referred to above are essential to that case, the presiding officer has the authority to adjourn the hearing.

Yours sincerely

Sarah Davies (now Meelan)
Personnel Manager