Police boss hits back as top cop to lead enquiry
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy.
Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alan Hardwick has come out fighting in the row over suspended Chief Constable Neil Rhodes as the saga reaches Westminster.
Mr Hardwick has hit back after Lincoln MP Karl McCartney wrote to Home Secretary Theresa May asking for her views on Mr Rhodes’ suspension over a “potential conduct matter” three weeks ago.
In his letter, Mr McCartney claimed the PCC’s actions were “particularly autocratic with unknown motivations” and that Mr Rhodes had been told of his suspension in a corridor at Lincolnshire Police headquarters in Nettleham before being escorted from the premises.
The MP also claimed that Mr Rhodes had to wait seven days before being told of the allegations against him and invited Mrs May to inform him and other Lincolnshire MPs about her knowledge of the suspension.
Speaking to the Lincolnshire Free Press on Friday, Mr Hardwick said: “Quite frankly, I’m very surprised that Karl McCartney should seek to ask the Home Secretary to intervene concerning the role of an elected representative of the public.
“Mr McCartney doesn’t know the full facts and he seems to be in some doubt as to what my role is as PCC which is strange since he was a member of the Government that decided to introduce PCCs.
“He, I’m sure, would be displeased if I publicly criticised in any way his role as an elected representative of the people – something I would never dream of doing.
“Mr McCartney seems to think that I’m answerable to politicians when, in fact, I’m answerable to the people of Lincolnshire and they are my priority.”
The row between Mr Hardwick and the MP comes at the same time as Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy’s appointment to lead the investigation into Mr Rhodes.
Sir Peter (54), has led the north west of England police force since 2008 and ruled himself out of the race to become Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 2011 after Sir Paul Stephenson quit over the phone-hacking scandal involving several national newspapers.
Mr Hardwick said: “I’m very pleased that Sir Peter has agreed to be the investigating officer in this enquiry.”
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Weather for Spalding
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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