The Chief Constable of Gwent Police and his predecessor have been cleared of wrongdoing following allegations made about their conduct.
A complaint was made to the Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston in July last year against Chief Constable Jeff Farrar and the former Chief Constable, Carmel Napier.
The complaint followed a fraud case against Torfaen council worker Farooq Dastgir and businessman Gary Inchcliffe, who were cleared of false accounting.
Mr Johnston refereed the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commissioned (IPCC) who said the case should be dealt with locally.
An investigation independent of Gwent Police was launched and after reading its report Mr Johnston decided no further action was needed.
He said: “As the appropriate authority for complaint and conduct matters relating to Chief Constables, I have carefully considered the findings of this thorough and independent investigation and I did not find any grounds to uphold any aspect of the complaints.
I am satisfied that the investigation was conducted in accordance with the highest standards and I do not intend to take any further action in this matter.
“I understand that these matters merit considerable scrutiny but I do have concerns about the cost implications for the tax payer surrounding complex investigations such as this one.
“This particular investigation involved considerable effort and absorbed valuable policing time to ensure the full accountability of senior officers.”
Why give publicity to this outcome by Ian Johnston, the ELECTED Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner, without also highlighting what the original allegations were? Does anyone know what the accusations were?. Do the Public Know? if not, why not quitely shut the issues down after the investigation, and not do so with this `fanfare`. This article means absolutely nothing.
Yes, what were the accusations? Anyway Gwent police, or any other force, investigating their own is likely to end with this result. The Independent Police Complaints Commission should have dealt with this and not returned it to Gwent Police. Rightly or wrongly it leaves the suspicion that something was going on, when these matters should have been cleared up.
Councillor Williams, the matter was investigated by Cheshire Police.
I am grateful for this clarification, Commissioner, but I still feel that the IPCC should have dealt with accusations at this level of seniority when they have been referred to this body by a Commissioner. To do otherwise does raise suspicion amongst the public which is not a good outcome.
Commissioner; Perhaps it may be a good idea to publish the `report` ? most elected representatives work on the principal of being open, transparent, and accountable, and according to the `report`, we are told, there was no basis to the alllegations made against honourable senior Gwent police officers. That certainly being the case, What`s there to hide?..
Why give publicity to this outcome by Ian Johnston, the ELECTED Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner, without also highlighting what the original allegations were? Does anyone know what the accusations were?. Do the Public Know? if not, why not quitely shut the issues down after the investigation, and not do so with this `fanfare`. This article means absolutely nothing.
Yes, what were the accusations? Anyway Gwent police, or any other force, investigating their own is likely to end with this result. The Independent Police Complaints Commission should have dealt with this and not returned it to Gwent Police. Rightly or wrongly it leaves the suspicion that something was going on, when these matters should have been cleared up.
Councillor Williams, the matter was investigated by Cheshire Police.
I am grateful for this clarification, Commissioner, but I still feel that the IPCC should have dealt with accusations at this level of seniority when they have been referred to this body by a Commissioner. To do otherwise does raise suspicion amongst the public; which is not a good outcome.
Commissioner; Perhaps it may be a good idea to publish the `report` ? most elected representatives work on the principal of being open, transparent, and accountable, and according to the `report`, we are told, there was no basis to the alllegations made against honourable senior Gwent police officers. That certainly being the case, What`s there to hide?..