Merseyside Police deputy boss accused of ‘blatant misogyny’

The tribunal heard that in January 2021, ACC Green saw an “innocuous” email from Ms Bocking to her boss amd used it as an “excuse” to get rid of them both from NWROCU.

Ms Bocking had suggested to Det Ch Supt Higham that they use the code-name “Jon Rooke” to block out time in her electronic diary, to avoid excessive meetings.

ACC Green “took offence” and showed the email to Merseyside’s then-deputy chief constable Serena Kennedy, who has since become the force’s chief constable.

He suggested it amounted to “dishonesty”, although no actual bookings had been made and Det Ch Supt Higham had not responded to the email.

Ms Kennedy was also criticised by the tribunal for the “extraordinary” decision to forward the email to anti-corruption detectives without ever speaking to Det Ch Supt Higham or Ms Bocking.

The tribunal said it was “concerned” with her evidence during the case, and Judge Tobin said DCC Kennedy’s decision to “throw her lot in” with ACC Green was “clearly an error”.

“This may have been to support the chain of command or because she did not want her force to lose face to Greater Manchester Police, or perhaps out of misplaced loyalty to a close colleague,” he wrote.

Ms Bocking was sent back to GMP, but the tribunal found it had “failed to stand up for her” and left her “in limbo” as the grievance process dragged on.

She eventually resigned and took a job at the National Crime Agency in January 2023.

Det Ch Supt Higham settled her claim, whereas Ms Bocking took the force to trial.

The tribunal ordered the parties to attempt to resolve the case between them.