South Yorkshire mayor and former police and crime commissioner clash in meeting over £65m ‘black hole’

The mayor of South Yorkshire has suggested in a meeting that the former police and crime commissioner (PCC) apologise for an accounting error that left a £65m hole in South Yorkshire Police’s finances.

Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire’s former PCC, clashed with mayor Oliver Coppard during a meeting of the police and crime panel on Monday, which led to Mr Coppard suggesting that Dr Billings apologise for the error.

Dr. Billings, who served as PCC for 10 years, expressed concern over the removal of his foreword from an annual report. During the meeting, he asked the current PCC, Oliver Coppard, why his foreword was not included.

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“I noticed that the foreword I wrote for the 2023/24 annual report has been removed. Can I ask why it was excluded and not included in the published report?” Dr. Billings questioned.

South Yorkshire mayor and former police and crime commissioner clash in meeting over £65m ‘black hole’South Yorkshire mayor and former police and crime commissioner clash in meeting over £65m ‘black hole’
South Yorkshire mayor and former police and crime commissioner clash in meeting over £65m ‘black hole’

Dr Alan Billings submitted a question to the police and crime panel meeting on December 9, asking why his foreword to a report had been removed.

“I noticed that the annual report of the PCC for 2023/24 – the foreword I wrote has been removed, so can I ask the question of the mayor about why the foreword to the annual report was removed and not included in the report now published?

In response, Mr Coppard expressed surprise at the inquiry, stating, “I’m slightly surprised by the question. It’s clear to me that the former police and crime commissioner seems to be struggling a little bit with the transition to his new role. But let me make [it] clear — I am now responsible for the functions of the police and crime commissioner, and therefore it is right that I put the the foreword into my own words, as that has been published by the organisation.”

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Coppard went on to suggest that Dr. Billings could share his original foreword through other means, such as his personal social media channels.

He alluded to the £65m ‘accounting error’ that had been discovered after he took on the PCC role, under his powers as mayor earlier this year.

“All I would say is, if the former police and crime commissioner is going to make some public announcement, I would gently suggest that it might want to include an apology for the financial state which we found when we took over the office,” Mr Coppard added.

The error is currently being investigated.

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