Gwent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston has been criticised by a committee of MPs as having a “disdainful attitude” when they questioned him.
Commissioner Ian Johnston appeared before Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee earlier this month to answer questions over the resignation of Gwent Police Chief Constable Carmel Napier.
Ms Napier told the same committee that she felt bullied into taking retirement.
The critical report by the MPs reads: “We were disappointed that, shortly after we took evidence from Mr Johnston, he took to Twitter to criticise a member of the committee for asking questions that he believed had been prompted by Gwent MPs, describing the proceedings as “sad really”.
“Mr Johnson even described Mr Ruane as a “plant of Gwent MPs”. This disdainful attitude towards scrutiny by Parliament, as well as an indication of a clear over-sensitivity to criticism, from a politician elected by less that 8% of the electorate, who had managed to side-step the statutory arrangements for local scrutiny of his decision to sack the Chief Constable, is further evidence, if any were needed, that the checks and balances on police and crime commissioners are too weak.”
In a statement, Mr Johnston said: “I would like to reiterate that the interests of the communities of Gwent have, and always will be, at the forefront of my decisions and that at all times I act within the relevant legislation.
“I also want to reassure members of the public that I will be moving to appoint a new chief constable at the beginning of September and in the meantime I will work with the temporary Chief Constable Jeff Farrar to ensure the force has the stability and leadership required, to continue to provide a police service for Gwent which meets the needs of the communities of Gwent.”
Keith Vaz, the chairman of the committee, said it was worrying that police and crime commissioners were able to side-step the statutory process for dismissing a chief constable.
Caerphilly MP Wayne David went further and questioned the need for Police and Crime Commissioners.
He said: “This report is scathing. It believes that Ian Johnston decided that the chief constable had to go, even though he had produced little if any evidence to justify his actions. It is also very critical of Mr Johnston’s own attitude to accountability. As he has taken his actions according to the letter of the law, it begs the question whether the law itself needs to be changed. Indeed, this report brings into question whether we should have PCCs in the first place.”