West Yorkshire police chief will not face bribery charges in Northern Ireland

Mark Gilmore was suspended as chief constable last June after an investigation was launched into claims he was involved in the alleged corrupt award of police vehicle contracts.

In December it emerged that the province’s Public Prosecution Service had been given a file by detectives investigating the allegations.

A spokeswoman told The Yorkshire Post today: “We are still considering a number of individuals but we have taken a ‘no prosecution’ decision against one individual, that is Mark Gilmore.

“The reason is that there was insufficient evidence to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction.”

Responding to the news, one of Mr Gilmore’s fellow chief constables and chairman of the Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association claimed there “never has been” a criminal case for him to answer.

Mr Gilmore, who grew up in Belfast and spent most of his career there, was one of several officers facing claims including bribery, misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office.

He was suspended on full pay by West Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson in June – a little over a year after his appointment – after details of the investigation came to light.

At the time Mr Burns-Williamson said the suspension was “a necessity in the public interest until the full facts have been established”. Dee Collins took over as Temporary Chief Constable.

At the time of his suspension, Mr Gilmore, who attended police interview in Belfast voluntarily, insisted he had always acted with honesty and integrity.

Before questioning Mr Gilmore, PSNI detectives had arrested seven men on suspicion of offences including bribery, misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office.

Retired PSNI assistant chief constable Duncan McCausland was one of those detained.

After he was released, pending a report being sent to prosecutors, Mr McCausland strenuously denied wrongdoing and stressed his determination to prove his innocence.

It was revealed in December that Mr Gilmore had been paid nearly £90,000 by West Yorkshire Police while suspended. He has not had use of his company car and had to hand over IT equipment, including mobile phones, following his suspension.

West Yorkshire Police have not yet commented on the decision.

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I understand a decision has been taken by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in Northern Ireland not to prosecute Mark Gilmore.

“A review of the suspension of the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire is currently being undertaken.”

Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association (CPOSA) Chair, Mark Polin, who is also chief constable of North Wales Police, said: “I welcome the decision of the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland (PPSNI) that there is no criminal case for Chief Constable Mark Gilmore to answer; in our view there never has been.

“Mark Gilmore has always affirmed that the allegations were without foundation and that he has acted with honesty, integrity and professionalism throughout his career.

“Two independent reviews of the merits of the allegations against Mark Gilmore have concluded there was no wrongdoing.

“Following their review of the material gathered by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said in October 2014 that they would not investigate the matter because their view of the evidence already acquired by the PSNI was that ‘it did not suggest or indicate that CC Gilmore had, or may have, misconducted himself’.”

“Mark has cooperated voluntarily and fully with this investigation since June 2014. He now wishes to return to duty without further delay as chief constable of West Yorkshire Police to continue to serve the people of the county.

“He is very grateful for the support of his family, friends and colleagues and the confidence they placed in him throughout.”