This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33987889

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Avon and Somerset Police chief Nick Gargan is asked to resign Avon and Somerset Police chief Nick Gargan told to resign
(about 1 hour later)
A police chief guilty of misconduct has been called upon to resign by the police and crime commissioner.A police chief guilty of misconduct has been called upon to resign by the police and crime commissioner.
Avon and Somerset chief constable Nick Gargan was suspended in May 2014 amid allegations of inappropriate conduct and, later, data protection breaches. Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Nick Gargan was suspended in May 2014 amid allegations of inappropriate conduct and, later, data protection breaches.
PCC Sue Mountstevens said he had "abused his position" by forwarding emails and "storing intimate images on his police issue phone". PCC Sue Mountstevens said he had "abused his position" by forwarding emails and "storing intimate images" on his work phone.
She is the first PCC to use new powers to call upon a chief constable to quit. The news was said to come as a "huge disappointment" to Mr Gargan.
The Chief Police Officers Staff Association (CPOSA) said he would wait to see under "what grounds" the call for his resignation has been made.
'Let down'
Ms Mountstevens is the first PCC to use new powers to call upon a chief constable to quit.
Last month, an independent QC-led panel cleared Mr Gargan of gross misconduct - a sackable offence under police conduct rules - but found him guilty of eight misconduct charges.Last month, an independent QC-led panel cleared Mr Gargan of gross misconduct - a sackable offence under police conduct rules - but found him guilty of eight misconduct charges.
The sanction recommended by the panel was the most severe available - eight final written warnings, one for each misconduct finding. The findings published on the force website largely relate to "inappropriate disclosure of information" by forwarding emails and "inappropriate use of police-issued iPhone" by storing "intimate" images and text messages.
It recommended a sanction of eight final written warnings, one for each misconduct finding.
But Ms Mountstevens has been petitioned by retired officers and Mr Gargan's three predecessors as chief constable, who said he should go for the good of the force.But Ms Mountstevens has been petitioned by retired officers and Mr Gargan's three predecessors as chief constable, who said he should go for the good of the force.
'Flawed judgement'
In a statement on Wednesday, she said: "Chief Constable Nick Gargan has let down the colleagues he led and the communities he was there to protect.In a statement on Wednesday, she said: "Chief Constable Nick Gargan has let down the colleagues he led and the communities he was there to protect.
"He abused his position by forwarding confidential emails, interfering with a proper recruitment process and sending, receiving and storing intimate images on his police issue phone.""He abused his position by forwarding confidential emails, interfering with a proper recruitment process and sending, receiving and storing intimate images on his police issue phone."
She said he should have "led by example" but had instead "shown flawed judgement" and been found guilty of eight counts of misconduct "including two of discreditable conduct".She said he should have "led by example" but had instead "shown flawed judgement" and been found guilty of eight counts of misconduct "including two of discreditable conduct".
"From what I have seen and heard, he has lost the confidence of local people, police officers and staff," she said."From what I have seen and heard, he has lost the confidence of local people, police officers and staff," she said.
Rumours 'untrue'
She said she had now "initiated the process to require him to resign".She said she had now "initiated the process to require him to resign".
On Mr Gargan's behalf, CPOSA said he had "complied with every requirement of the protracted misconduct investigation and subsequent hearing" and had apologised for misconduct.
"He placed his fate in the hands of an expert professional panel, which made a clear recommendation that he should go back to work," the statement said.
"The overwhelming majority of the rumours surrounding the chief constable have turned out not to be true; indeed none of the initial allegations that prompted his suspension led to a misconduct finding, let alone a finding of gross misconduct or criminal behaviour."