Police tsars ‘evading rules’ over sackings

Protections in place that allow police chiefs to fight their corner if they are being forced out appear to be being side-stepped, according to the Home Affairs committee.

It says the early indications are that it is “very easy” for a police and crime commissioner (PCC) to remove a chief constable for reasons of an “insubstantial nature” and even the Home Secretary is powerless to intervene.

MPs warned it was further evidence that the checks and balances on PCCs are “too weak”.

They were particularly critical of Gwent commissioner Ian Johnston who “persuaded” Chief Constable Carmel Napier to retire earlier this year, which meant the formal process was bypassed.

The committee said the reasons given for the decision were “unsubstantiated by any concrete examples”. It also rounded on him for criticising the grilling he received about the move at the hands of Labour MP Chris Ruane, who represents the Vale of Clwyd in North Wales.

It said the incident was “further evidence, if any were needed, that the checks and balances on police and crime commissioners are too weak”.