28th August 2013
This week’s briefing covers stories from 16
police areas in England and Wales across the following BTP regions:
London North (3): Essex, Norfolk, Thames Valley;
London South (1): Hampshire;
North East (5): Leicestershire, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumbria, Nottinghamshire;
North West (1) : Merseyside;
Wales & Western (6): Avon & Somerset, Gloucestershire, Gwent, North Wales, South Wales, West Midlands.
In this issue:
Investigation
Two police and crime commissioners – in Hampshire and North Wales – face the sack for ‘lying’ about where they live – and any new elections could cost taxpayers £3.6million. [Daily Mail]
- [BBC News] says the two PCCs are being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission after they were accused of falsifying their eligibility for the posts.
- North Wales PCC Winston Roddick insisted he acted in a “right and proper manner” after claims he lied about where he lived in electoral papers. [Daily Post]
- Hampshire PCC Simon Hayes has said he will carry on his role as normal, despite being under investigation. [Portsmouth News]
Other stories
Labour will not abolish police and crime commissioners, a Policy Exchange director argues in the [New Statesman], adding that the party should instead reform them into ‘ministers for the local criminal justice system’.
Police and fire chiefs have begun talks over the potential merger of Norfolk’s blue light services in a bid to reduce 999 costs, it has emerged. [Thetford and Brandon Times]
The police and crime commissioner in Gwent who sacked his chief constable said he did not get a fair hearing when he appeared before a committee of MPs. [BBC News]
[The Guardian] spoke to the PCCs at Essex, Leicestershire, Northumbria, South Wales, Thames Valley and West Midlands about their “tough leadership challenges”.
By area
North East
Northamptonshire PCC Adam Simmonds has invited a Government minister to his region to highlight the problem of illegally registered foreign vehicles on the county’s roads. [Northants News]
Leicestershire‘s PCC, Sir Clive Loader, is seeking views from the public and partner organisations on a revised version of his Police and Crime Plan. [AboutMyArea]
Nottinghamshire‘s Police and Crime Commissioner, Paddy Tipping, will be fitted with a tag usually used for criminals today, which he will wear for a week. [ITV Central]
Community groups are among those being offered the chance to apply for upwards of £20,000, courtesy of a cash pot from North Yorkshire’s inaugural crime commissioner. [Filey Mercury]
North West
A Merseyside police officer was allowed to take early retirement rather than face an investigation into allegations she falsely claimed thousands of pounds in pay for days she never worked. [Liverpool Echo]
Wales and Western
The Police and Crime Commissioner in Gloucestershire has moved to justify around £300,000 of annual salaries for jobs all geared towards supporting his role. [The Citizen]
More than £80,000 has been handed out to local communities and voluntary organisations in the Bristol area from the Avon and Somerset police commissioner’s community-action fund. [Bristol Post]