A former Greater Manchester Police chief inspector, Dale Sexton, who directed the police’s response during the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017, will be subject to disciplinary proceedings but will not face criminal charges. This decision comes despite Sexton’s admission that he did not notify other emergency services about the initiation of Operation Plato, a procedure for handling a suspected marauding terrorist attack, because he believed it would impede the operations of ambulance and fire services.

The inquiry into Sexton’s conduct was managed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which ultimately concluded that there was sufficient evidence to suggest a potential breach of professional standards, warranting a disciplinary hearing. However, the Crown Prosecution Service determined that no criminal charges should be brought against Sexton.

This outcome was reached after an initial assessment by the IOPC found no grounds for criminal charges, but a subsequent review, prompted by a Victims’ Right To Review (VRR) request, led to a reconsideration of Sexton’s case. Despite the challenges and debates regarding Sexton’s actions during the Manchester Arena attack, it was ruled that he did not deliberately withhold information from other emergency services.

The forthcoming disciplinary process will examine the specifics of Sexton’s conduct during the tragic event, with an emphasis on whether professional standards were breached. This process is viewed as essential for maintaining public confidence in the police complaints system, with the IOPC and Greater Manchester Police committing to transparency and thorough scrutiny throughout.