Porthmadog police officer cleared of assault and misconduct charges

A North Wales Police officer found not guilty of assault during the arrest of a man in Porthmadog has also been cleared of gross misconduct.

PC Richard Williams, who was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and non-fatal strangulation following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation, was acquitted on both counts last May after a seven-day trial at Caernarfon Crown Court.

A misconduct hearing by North Wales Police held this week found that the allegations against PC Williams were not proven.

A statement from the force on Friday said: “We received a complaint in May 2023 in relation to the arrest of a man in Porthmadog.

“The force referred the complaint as required to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and after consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, the IOPC charged PC Richard Williams with assault and intentional strangulation.

“PC Williams was found not guilty following a seven day trial at Caernarfon Crown Court in 2025.

“The IOPC subsequently directed North Wales Police to undertake a Misconduct hearing, where PC Williams was subject to 8 allegations of Gross Misconduct.

“Today, the panel found that the allegations against PC Williams were not proven.”

Speaking after conclusion of the hearing, Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison said: “PC Williams has been the subject of an IOPC led criminal investigation and misconduct process, which have now concluded.

"Having now been cleared by a misconduct panel which reviewed all the evidence and also a Crown Court trial where he was found not guilty, this matter is now at an end. I look forward to PC Williams returning to full duties.

“Officers are confronted with violence and danger on a daily basis and carry out their duties under difficult circumstances, rightly there should be public scrutiny but also a recognition of the challenges that they face trying to keep the public safe.”