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| 'Plebgate' police officers face misconduct hearings | 'Plebgate' police officers face misconduct hearings |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two police officers face misconduct hearings over the "plebgate" affair involving ex-chief whip Andrew Mitchell, the police watchdog has said. | Two police officers face misconduct hearings over the "plebgate" affair involving ex-chief whip Andrew Mitchell, the police watchdog has said. |
| Insp Ken Mackaill and Det Sgt Stuart Hinton are accused of gross misconduct over accounts they gave of a meeting with Mr Mitchell, and could be sacked if the disciplinary charges are proved. | Insp Ken Mackaill and Det Sgt Stuart Hinton are accused of gross misconduct over accounts they gave of a meeting with Mr Mitchell, and could be sacked if the disciplinary charges are proved. |
| The meeting followed claims the Tory MP called police "plebs", which he denied. | The meeting followed claims the Tory MP called police "plebs", which he denied. |
| Another officer, Sgt Chris Jones, has been cleared of misconduct. | Another officer, Sgt Chris Jones, has been cleared of misconduct. |
| Det Sgt Hinton is from Warwickshire Police, Insp Mackaill works for West Mercia Police and Sgt Jones for West Midlands police. | Det Sgt Hinton is from Warwickshire Police, Insp Mackaill works for West Mercia Police and Sgt Jones for West Midlands police. |
| Downing Street row | |
| All three officers, who are Police Federation representatives in the Midlands, met the Conservative MP at his Sutton Coldfield constituency office in October 2012 to find out what he had said during a row in Downing Street. | All three officers, who are Police Federation representatives in the Midlands, met the Conservative MP at his Sutton Coldfield constituency office in October 2012 to find out what he had said during a row in Downing Street. |
| It followed reports he had sworn at officers and called them "plebs" for refusing to let him cycle though the street's main gate. | It followed reports he had sworn at officers and called them "plebs" for refusing to let him cycle though the street's main gate. |
| After the meeting the men said Mr Mitchell had not given a full account and called for him to resign. | After the meeting the men said Mr Mitchell had not given a full account and called for him to resign. |
| But a recording of the meeting cast doubt on what they had said. | But a recording of the meeting cast doubt on what they had said. |
| The three officers then faced further criticism over evidence they gave to MPs before the home affairs select committee in October 2013. | The three officers then faced further criticism over evidence they gave to MPs before the home affairs select committee in October 2013. |
| Carl Gumsley, commissioner for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), directed Warwickshire Police on Monday to hold a misconduct hearing for Det Sgt Hinton. | |
| This was after the force declined to follow Mr Gumsley's earlier recommendation that there was a case to answer. | |
| West Mercia Police had decided, in line with Mr Gumsley's opinion, that Insp Mackaill has a case to answer for gross misconduct, and he should therefore face a misconduct hearing. | |
| Libel case | Libel case |
| In 2014, a High Court judge rejected a libel case brought by Mr Mitchell against the Sun newspaper, concluding that "on the balance of probabilities" he had called a police officer a "pleb". | In 2014, a High Court judge rejected a libel case brought by Mr Mitchell against the Sun newspaper, concluding that "on the balance of probabilities" he had called a police officer a "pleb". |
| Mr Mitchell has accepted he used bad language but said he had not used that particular word. | Mr Mitchell has accepted he used bad language but said he had not used that particular word. |
| He paid £300,000 in legal costs after losing the case. | He paid £300,000 in legal costs after losing the case. |
| Last year, the High Court described a misconduct investigation into the actions of the trio as "lamentable" saying there was a "series of errors and irregularities". | Last year, the High Court described a misconduct investigation into the actions of the trio as "lamentable" saying there was a "series of errors and irregularities". |
| The case was then referred back to the IPCC. | The case was then referred back to the IPCC. |