Police chief suspension meeting 'a disgrace'

ANGRY residents have branded a meeting to discuss Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick's decision to suspend the force's acting chief constable as a "disgrace".

It came after members of the public were inadvertently excluded from the meeting of Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel at Tedder Hall, in Manby.

The East Lindsey District Council-run panel is responsible for scrutinising the actions of the police and crime commissioner.

After resolving to form a task group to investigate the "circumstances and implications" of Mr Hardwick's decision to suspend Neil Rhodes, the room was swarmed by a handful of outraged residents who had not been told the meeting had started.

They were led by Louth town councillor Margaret Ottaway, who said: "I think it is a disgrace that members of the public were waiting downstairs for this meeting but weren't taken in.

"If this is the way that the panel operates, then I don't know how they are going to look at what Mr Hardwick did.

"I know how local government works and it should be open to the public. I will be taking this matter further because what has happened is unacceptable."

Panel chairman Councillor Ray Wootten apologised to the members of the public and filled them in on what had happened during the meeting.

As reported, acting chief constable Mr Rhodes was suspended by Mr Hardwick in February following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

However, Mr Rhodes appealed the decision and took the case to the High Court, in Manchester, where his suspension was quashed in March and he returned to work.

Now, as the pair attempt to work together for the sake of Lincolnshire Police, the panel has decided to investigate what happened and why.

Councillor Wootten said: "We will leave no stone unturned in our investigation into the causes and consequences of this matter."

Councillor Stephen Woodliffe added: "It is important that the task force looks at the morale of the police force following this incident."

And Councillor Norman Norris said that the task force will provide "reassurance" that the incident is being looked into thoroughly.

There has been significant interest in the recent situation and I've been tasked with leading a working group to fully explore what has happened.

We will be looking at how we can support the commissioner in his role by helping to ensure such situations don't reoccur. Our work will be thorough and we will be asking challenging questions before reporting back to the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel later in the year.

I am looking forward to chairing this group and I believe establishing the working group is the right way for the panel to investigate what has happened.

The Working Group will consider the events surrounding the decision by the Commissioner to suspend the acting chief constable and focus on what lessons can be learnt.

The working group is cross-political and cross-gender and is made up of myself, Councillor Anne Welburn and Councillor Ian Cartwright MBE.

We will aim to produce an interim report for the next Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel.

The chair has asked us to work towards completing a full report by September 7.

Morale within the force is very important and we will be looking and how it has been affected by this incident. However, we cannot start our investigation until Sir Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, has completed his investigation.