The Suffolk Hyde Affair - Doc 242 Leiston Fire Station Drill Night

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Thompsons
Solicitors

CONGRESS HOUSE
GREAT RUSSELL STREET
LONDOM
WC1B 3LW
DX 35722 BLOOMSBURY
TEL 0171 637 9761
FAX 0171 637 0000
Fax 0181-546 5187

CDJ/FBU/F98/60224

Mr A Wigglesworth
10 Somerleyton Road
Oulton
Lowestoft
NR32 4RD

By Post only

18th June, 1999

Dear Mr Wigglesworth,

DISCIPLINE CHARGES MR MICHAEL HYDE

The correspondence arrived in the second post.

I would point out to the Brigade that there is no power to appoint an assessor.

The power conferred in regulation 9 (40 is limited to cases which fall to be heard by the chief Fire Officer or by the disciplinary tribunal of the fire authority. Mr Hyde’s case is being heard by neither and therefore there is no power to have an assessor. Any attempt to have such a person will be a breach of the Regulations and a departure from the usual procedures. I suggest that your letter makes it clear that there is no justifiable reason for the departure, you can only assume that it is yet a further example of an anti-union policy operating in the Brigade.
I would also point out in response to Ms Davies’ letter of 10th June 1999 that the guidance makes it quite clear that the Brigade investigating officer should be experienced. Certainly, one would expect the personnel officer to keep a watching brief.

I think that finally, I would make the point that you are highly concerned at the unusual procedures being adopted generally by Suffolk Fire Service and that while matters of discipline are excluded from grievance procedures, there is always the dispute mechanism between the authority and the fire Brigades Union to be considered.




Yours sincerely



Craig Jones
For THOMPSONS