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Avon and Somerset police chief to discover his fate amid calls to quit Avon and Somerset police chief asked to resign
(about 1 hour later)
A chief constable who was suspended for 18 months for misconduct will find out on Wednesday afternoon if he is to return to work amid growing calls for him to go. Nick Gargan has been asked to resign as chief constable of Avon and Somerset police, plunging one of Britain’s largest forces into chaos.
The demand was made by his police and crime commissioner, Sue Mountstevens. She said Gargan had to go “due to a lack of confidence by local people, police officers and staff in his position as leader of Avon and Somerset Constabulary”.
Gargan, who was suspended for 18 months for misconduct, was due to find out on Wednesday afternoon if he is to return to work amid growing calls for him to go.
Nick Gargan, the £175,000-a-year chief of Avon and Somerset police, was cleared of the most serious allegations in July but found guilty by a panel of eight of misconduct charges.Nick Gargan, the £175,000-a-year chief of Avon and Somerset police, was cleared of the most serious allegations in July but found guilty by a panel of eight of misconduct charges.
His fate – and details of his misconduct – will be announced at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon immediately after a sanctions hearing presided over by the area’s elected police and crime commissioner, Sue Mountstevens, and attended by Gargan, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, lawyers and other officials.
Three former chief constables of Avon and Somerset have said Gargan should go, while more than 1,200 people have signed an online petition calling for his resignation. The local branch of Police Federation has also voiced criticism.Three former chief constables of Avon and Somerset have said Gargan should go, while more than 1,200 people have signed an online petition calling for his resignation. The local branch of Police Federation has also voiced criticism.
Related: Suspended chief constable found guilty of eight misconduct chargesRelated: Suspended chief constable found guilty of eight misconduct charges
After Gargan was cleared of the most serious charges in July – that he was a sex pest – his suspension was lifted and he was scheduled to start a phased return to work. Some of the misconduct charges he was found guilty of relate to data sharing, details are yet to be made public.After Gargan was cleared of the most serious charges in July – that he was a sex pest – his suspension was lifted and he was scheduled to start a phased return to work. Some of the misconduct charges he was found guilty of relate to data sharing, details are yet to be made public.
Gargan was suspended on full pay and since July has been on “gardening leave”. Wednesday’s sanctions hearing could back his return to work, issue final warnings, or lead to his departure.Gargan was suspended on full pay and since July has been on “gardening leave”. Wednesday’s sanctions hearing could back his return to work, issue final warnings, or lead to his departure.
Because he was cleared of the gross misconduct charges the police and crime commissioner cannot dismiss him. Gargan, if he was minded to resign, would face a significant financial penalty because he has 27 years as a police officer, three years short of the 30 years needed to receive his full pension.Because he was cleared of the gross misconduct charges the police and crime commissioner cannot dismiss him. Gargan, if he was minded to resign, would face a significant financial penalty because he has 27 years as a police officer, three years short of the 30 years needed to receive his full pension.
Even his critics tell the Guardian the misconduct he has been found guilty of is relatively minor. But his future is far from clear because of the negative reaction to the announcement last month that he would return to work.Even his critics tell the Guardian the misconduct he has been found guilty of is relatively minor. But his future is far from clear because of the negative reaction to the announcement last month that he would return to work.
The three former chief constables of Avon and Somerset in their public intervention said leaders should be “inspiring, not an embarrassment”.The three former chief constables of Avon and Somerset in their public intervention said leaders should be “inspiring, not an embarrassment”.
Gargan, 48, is seen as one of the more able chief constables and was the national lead for policing on finance issues, crucial at a time of budget cuts. He was touted as a possible candidate to be commissioner of the Metropolitan police.Gargan, 48, is seen as one of the more able chief constables and was the national lead for policing on finance issues, crucial at a time of budget cuts. He was touted as a possible candidate to be commissioner of the Metropolitan police.
Gargan took over the Avon and Somerset force in March 2013 from Colin Port, who left after being told by Mountstevens, then newly elected as the as crime commissioner, that he would have to reapply for his job.Gargan took over the Avon and Somerset force in March 2013 from Colin Port, who left after being told by Mountstevens, then newly elected as the as crime commissioner, that he would have to reapply for his job.
Gargan was suspended in May 2014 over serious allegations emanating from two whistleblowers.Gargan was suspended in May 2014 over serious allegations emanating from two whistleblowers.
The IPCC investigated, with Gargan cleared of the most serious claims of “inappropriate advances towards female colleagues”.The IPCC investigated, with Gargan cleared of the most serious claims of “inappropriate advances towards female colleagues”.
On the day he was suspended Gargan, unaware of what was to come, was tweeting jokes saying he was not as busy as usual.On the day he was suspended Gargan, unaware of what was to come, was tweeting jokes saying he was not as busy as usual.
He wrote: “Stand by for a Tommy Cooper classic to celebrate a day with a rare few gaps on the diary … ”He wrote: “Stand by for a Tommy Cooper classic to celebrate a day with a rare few gaps on the diary … ”
Two minutes later he tweeted: “Police arrested 2 kids yesterday: one was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks. They charged one & let the other off.”Two minutes later he tweeted: “Police arrested 2 kids yesterday: one was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks. They charged one & let the other off.”
In July, Gargan said in a statement: “I accept the findings of the panel and apologise that my actions have fallen below the standards expected of a chief constable. I am pleased that the more serious gross misconduct allegations were found not to be proven including any allegation of inappropriate advances towards female colleagues. I am relieved and very pleased that my suspension is at an end.In July, Gargan said in a statement: “I accept the findings of the panel and apologise that my actions have fallen below the standards expected of a chief constable. I am pleased that the more serious gross misconduct allegations were found not to be proven including any allegation of inappropriate advances towards female colleagues. I am relieved and very pleased that my suspension is at an end.
“I await the panel chair’s report and my meeting with the police and crime commissioner, and will have no further comment to make until then.”“I await the panel chair’s report and my meeting with the police and crime commissioner, and will have no further comment to make until then.”