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| Police and crime commissioners role to be investigated after Gwent ousting | Police and crime commissioners role to be investigated after Gwent ousting |
| (4 months later) | |
| The role, effectiveness and powers of the new police and crime commissioners will be the subject of a full inquiry by an influential committee of MPs. The home affairs select committee moved to set up the inquiry on Friday in the wake of the ousting of the chief constable of Gwent by the local elected commissioner. | The role, effectiveness and powers of the new police and crime commissioners will be the subject of a full inquiry by an influential committee of MPs. The home affairs select committee moved to set up the inquiry on Friday in the wake of the ousting of the chief constable of Gwent by the local elected commissioner. |
| Carmel Napier announced her sudden retirement from policing last week, but documents have since been leaked showing that Ian Johnston, the PCC, told her that if she did not resign he would have her removed. | Carmel Napier announced her sudden retirement from policing last week, but documents have since been leaked showing that Ian Johnston, the PCC, told her that if she did not resign he would have her removed. |
| Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said he was seeking a meeting with Theresa May, the home secretary, to discuss the "huge" power held by PCCs. He told BBC News that there were insufficient checks on the powers of the new commissioners, particularly around the hiring and firing of chief constables. | Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said he was seeking a meeting with Theresa May, the home secretary, to discuss the "huge" power held by PCCs. He told BBC News that there were insufficient checks on the powers of the new commissioners, particularly around the hiring and firing of chief constables. |
| "The legislation has removed all checks and balances around appointments and dismissals," Sir Hugh said. | "The legislation has removed all checks and balances around appointments and dismissals," Sir Hugh said. |
| Keith Vaz MP, chairman of the home affairs committee, said the dismissal of Napier in Gwent was "a symptom of the fundamental problems that appear to be experienced between some PCCs and their chief constables". | Keith Vaz MP, chairman of the home affairs committee, said the dismissal of Napier in Gwent was "a symptom of the fundamental problems that appear to be experienced between some PCCs and their chief constables". |
| Vaz added: "A year before their elections, the committee warned that this might happen, and suggested a Magna Carta between police and crime commissioners and chief constables so that everyone knew where their rights and responsibilities began and ended. | Vaz added: "A year before their elections, the committee warned that this might happen, and suggested a Magna Carta between police and crime commissioners and chief constables so that everyone knew where their rights and responsibilities began and ended. |
| "In creating PCCs, the home secretary was seeking to construct a new and better policing edifice, but if there is a structural fault which is not addressed quickly, such as the ability to scrutinise their decisions, the building will collapse." | "In creating PCCs, the home secretary was seeking to construct a new and better policing edifice, but if there is a structural fault which is not addressed quickly, such as the ability to scrutinise their decisions, the building will collapse." |
| He said the police and crime panels set up to scrutinise the commissioners lacked power and had received little guidance or advice. "It is clear the panels need to be given more powers. The committee will therefore be conducting a full inquiry into police and crime commissioners later this year." | He said the police and crime panels set up to scrutinise the commissioners lacked power and had received little guidance or advice. "It is clear the panels need to be given more powers. The committee will therefore be conducting a full inquiry into police and crime commissioners later this year." |
| In a letter to Vaz, the Gwent PCC said he had taken legal advice before moving to oust Napier and had acted in the best interests of local people. | In a letter to Vaz, the Gwent PCC said he had taken legal advice before moving to oust Napier and had acted in the best interests of local people. |
| Johnston, who was elected on an independent ticket and is a former president of the Police Superintendents' Association, said: "I was confident and remain confident that at the conclusion of the process I would have had solid grounds to exercise the discretion invested in me by parliament and the electorate of the Gwent police area to call upon Mrs Napier to retire or resign." | Johnston, who was elected on an independent ticket and is a former president of the Police Superintendents' Association, said: "I was confident and remain confident that at the conclusion of the process I would have had solid grounds to exercise the discretion invested in me by parliament and the electorate of the Gwent police area to call upon Mrs Napier to retire or resign." |
| At a meeting last month, the PCC read from a prepared script as he explained to the chief constable why he wanted her to go. He said: "It should be clear by now that I have grave concerns about your performance and behaviour as chief constable. I need to share my concerns with you. | At a meeting last month, the PCC read from a prepared script as he explained to the chief constable why he wanted her to go. He said: "It should be clear by now that I have grave concerns about your performance and behaviour as chief constable. I need to share my concerns with you. |
| "In my judgment, you have lost the confidence of the public of Gwent and your officers and staff; I find your managerial style to be unacceptably dismissive, abrupt and unhelpful; you have failed to appropriately manage external and internal relations; you are deeply hostile to the very concept of the office of the PCC. | "In my judgment, you have lost the confidence of the public of Gwent and your officers and staff; I find your managerial style to be unacceptably dismissive, abrupt and unhelpful; you have failed to appropriately manage external and internal relations; you are deeply hostile to the very concept of the office of the PCC. |
| "My intention is not to humilate or upset you, but we need to be clear I do want you to retire in the next month." | "My intention is not to humilate or upset you, but we need to be clear I do want you to retire in the next month." |
| Police chiefs are concerned that the clash in Gwent could be repeated elsewhere as the elected commissioners accrue more powers and responsibilities over the next few months under a large-scale transfer of police assets to the new officials. | Police chiefs are concerned that the clash in Gwent could be repeated elsewhere as the elected commissioners accrue more powers and responsibilities over the next few months under a large-scale transfer of police assets to the new officials. |
| Earlier this year, Neil Rhodes, the chief constable of Lincolnshire, went to the high court to have his suspension by his PCC overturned by a judge. The court ruled that the suspension had been unlawful, irrational and perverse. The former chief constable of Avon & Somerset, Colin Port, also went to court after the PCC there declined to renew his contract. Port lost and a new chief has since been appointed. | Earlier this year, Neil Rhodes, the chief constable of Lincolnshire, went to the high court to have his suspension by his PCC overturned by a judge. The court ruled that the suspension had been unlawful, irrational and perverse. The former chief constable of Avon & Somerset, Colin Port, also went to court after the PCC there declined to renew his contract. Port lost and a new chief has since been appointed. |
| A Home Office spokesman said: "Police reforms are working and crime is falling. The introduction of PCCs has been the most significant democratic reform of policing. They have worked with the police to cut crime and given communities a real say over policing priorities in their areas." | A Home Office spokesman said: "Police reforms are working and crime is falling. The introduction of PCCs has been the most significant democratic reform of policing. They have worked with the police to cut crime and given communities a real say over policing priorities in their areas." |
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