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| Nick Gargan profile: Troubled times for high-flying police chief | Nick Gargan profile: Troubled times for high-flying police chief |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Nick Gargan has been called on to resign by the force's police and crime commissioner, after being found guilty of eight counts of misconduct. It is the first use of the controversial "hire and fire" powers available to PCCs. | |
| From his role during the investigation into the death of Princess Diana to a long suspension while allegations of inappropriate conduct towards female staff and data breaches were investigated by the police watchdog, BBC News examines the career of a policeman who seemed destined for great things. | From his role during the investigation into the death of Princess Diana to a long suspension while allegations of inappropriate conduct towards female staff and data breaches were investigated by the police watchdog, BBC News examines the career of a policeman who seemed destined for great things. |
| A high-flying opera lover and Twitter enthusiast, Nick Gargan was tipped by some to one day take Britain's top policing job. | A high-flying opera lover and Twitter enthusiast, Nick Gargan was tipped by some to one day take Britain's top policing job. |
| He did not fit the stereotype of the old-fashioned copper and admitted himself that he was not the sort of chief constable of whom the hard-drinking Inspector Rebus of Ian Rankin's novels would approve. | He did not fit the stereotype of the old-fashioned copper and admitted himself that he was not the sort of chief constable of whom the hard-drinking Inspector Rebus of Ian Rankin's novels would approve. |
| "I represent everything at the top end of the organisation that he's contemptuous of, and I understand that," he told the Guardian in April 2014. | "I represent everything at the top end of the organisation that he's contemptuous of, and I understand that," he told the Guardian in April 2014. |
| Mr Gargan joined Avon and Somerset Constabulary at the start of 2013, one of the first chief constables to be chosen under the new system of police and crime commissioners (PCCs), which replaced police authorities. | Mr Gargan joined Avon and Somerset Constabulary at the start of 2013, one of the first chief constables to be chosen under the new system of police and crime commissioners (PCCs), which replaced police authorities. |
| His predecessor Colin Port's departure had not been without controversy. New PCC Sue Mountstevens had asked him to reapply for the job - Mr Port refused and stepped down, but not before mounting a legal challenge to the process. | His predecessor Colin Port's departure had not been without controversy. New PCC Sue Mountstevens had asked him to reapply for the job - Mr Port refused and stepped down, but not before mounting a legal challenge to the process. |
| 'Diana cop' | 'Diana cop' |
| The story was flagged up as an example of tension between the new PCCs and chief constables, amid rumblings from some that their operational independence could be compromised. | The story was flagged up as an example of tension between the new PCCs and chief constables, amid rumblings from some that their operational independence could be compromised. |
| In contrast, Mr Gargan pledged "partnership" with Ms Mountstevens. | In contrast, Mr Gargan pledged "partnership" with Ms Mountstevens. |
| After a "turbulent time", he said "as the new chief, people will be looking at me to settle things down and basically just get on with the job". | After a "turbulent time", he said "as the new chief, people will be looking at me to settle things down and basically just get on with the job". |
| Aged 46, he already had quite a CV. | Aged 46, he already had quite a CV. |
| A fast-track graduate entry to the police his early career included a stint in Paris, working as a liaison officer during the investigation into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed. | A fast-track graduate entry to the police his early career included a stint in Paris, working as a liaison officer during the investigation into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed. |
| Mr Gargan was later dubbed "Diana cop" in headlines. | Mr Gargan was later dubbed "Diana cop" in headlines. |
| He had been assistant chief constable at Thames Valley Police, before joining the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) in 2010, rising to become chief executive. | He had been assistant chief constable at Thames Valley Police, before joining the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) in 2010, rising to become chief executive. |
| The national lead for police chiefs on intelligence and police budgets, he appeared comfortable in the public eye, giving lectures and interviews. | The national lead for police chiefs on intelligence and police budgets, he appeared comfortable in the public eye, giving lectures and interviews. |
| Police sources say he and his predecessor Mr Port, who was not known to court media attention, were like "chalk and cheese". | Police sources say he and his predecessor Mr Port, who was not known to court media attention, were like "chalk and cheese". |
| 'Bristol crocodile' | 'Bristol crocodile' |
| It was the sort of career that led newspapers to refer to him as a potential future Metropolitan Police commissioner. | It was the sort of career that led newspapers to refer to him as a potential future Metropolitan Police commissioner. |
| After the NPIA was wound up, Mr Gargan was snapped up at his first job interview - to be chief constable of Avon and Somerset. | After the NPIA was wound up, Mr Gargan was snapped up at his first job interview - to be chief constable of Avon and Somerset. |
| He started work in March 2013 and was known for his chatty Twitter updates including a notorious overheard sighting of the elusive "Bristol crocodile". | He started work in March 2013 and was known for his chatty Twitter updates including a notorious overheard sighting of the elusive "Bristol crocodile". |
| He said using Twitter could help "show a human face to policing" and told BBC Radio Bristol in March 2014: "Some people say the police can be a bit remote and a bit distant from their communities and one of my priorities is to say: 'Actually, your police force is full of normal people, who like to have a laugh'." | He said using Twitter could help "show a human face to policing" and told BBC Radio Bristol in March 2014: "Some people say the police can be a bit remote and a bit distant from their communities and one of my priorities is to say: 'Actually, your police force is full of normal people, who like to have a laugh'." |
| He and Ms Mountstevens seemed in tune, enjoying a "model" working relationship - according to the Home Affairs Committee chairman Keith Vaz. | He and Ms Mountstevens seemed in tune, enjoying a "model" working relationship - according to the Home Affairs Committee chairman Keith Vaz. |
| But Mr Gargan's push for change at Avon and Somerset Police, within months of arriving, irritated some. He favoured a direct-entry scheme to allow non-officer police staff to take jobs at inspector or chief inspector level, skipping the lower ranks. | But Mr Gargan's push for change at Avon and Somerset Police, within months of arriving, irritated some. He favoured a direct-entry scheme to allow non-officer police staff to take jobs at inspector or chief inspector level, skipping the lower ranks. |
| This was in line with Home Office thinking, but the local Police Federation branch described it as a "half-baked idea" and said "people who have not seen a dead body" could not earn the respect of colleagues. | This was in line with Home Office thinking, but the local Police Federation branch described it as a "half-baked idea" and said "people who have not seen a dead body" could not earn the respect of colleagues. |
| Maximum sanction | Maximum sanction |
| When news broke of allegations of inappropriate conduct towards female staff, he was said to be devastated. | When news broke of allegations of inappropriate conduct towards female staff, he was said to be devastated. |
| Mr Gargan was suspended in May 2014, 14 months into the job, while the police watchdog the IPCC investigated. Separate allegations of data protection breaches emerged. | Mr Gargan was suspended in May 2014, 14 months into the job, while the police watchdog the IPCC investigated. Separate allegations of data protection breaches emerged. |
| The process was beset by delays and it would not be until July 2015 that an independent QC-led panel would clear him of gross misconduct - a sackable offence. | The process was beset by delays and it would not be until July 2015 that an independent QC-led panel would clear him of gross misconduct - a sackable offence. |
| But it found him guilty of eight charges of misconduct, largely relating to "inappropriate disclosure of information" by forwarding emails and "inappropriate use of police-issued iPhone" by storing "intimate" images and text messages. | But it found him guilty of eight charges of misconduct, largely relating to "inappropriate disclosure of information" by forwarding emails and "inappropriate use of police-issued iPhone" by storing "intimate" images and text messages. |
| It recommended eight final written warnings. | It recommended eight final written warnings. |
| 'An embarrassment' | 'An embarrassment' |
| But the final word rests with the PCC and pressure began building from the local Police Federation and retired officers who were unhappy at the prospect of Mr Gargan returning to the force. | But the final word rests with the PCC and pressure began building from the local Police Federation and retired officers who were unhappy at the prospect of Mr Gargan returning to the force. |
| Three former chief constables wrote to Ms Mountstevens saying leaders should be "inspiring not an embarrassment". | Three former chief constables wrote to Ms Mountstevens saying leaders should be "inspiring not an embarrassment". |
| One of them, David Shattock, told the BBC that eight misconduct findings - details of which were not yet known - were "beyond the pale". | One of them, David Shattock, told the BBC that eight misconduct findings - details of which were not yet known - were "beyond the pale". |
| "I don't think there's a question of seriousness when it comes to the chief constable. You have to observe the highest standards of behaviour and integrity," he said. | "I don't think there's a question of seriousness when it comes to the chief constable. You have to observe the highest standards of behaviour and integrity," he said. |
| Ms Mountstevens has chosen to be the first PCC to use powers available under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act, to call upon Mr Gargan to resign. It is just the start of another process - her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Thomas Winsor, will now be asked for his views. | Ms Mountstevens has chosen to be the first PCC to use powers available under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act, to call upon Mr Gargan to resign. It is just the start of another process - her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Thomas Winsor, will now be asked for his views. |
| The Chief Police Officers' Staff Association said the "sudden announcement" had come as a "huge disappointment" to Mr Gargan, who was "deeply sorry" for his behaviour and wanted to return to "rebuild confidence in the force and in him as its leader". | The Chief Police Officers' Staff Association said the "sudden announcement" had come as a "huge disappointment" to Mr Gargan, who was "deeply sorry" for his behaviour and wanted to return to "rebuild confidence in the force and in him as its leader". |
| But Ms Mountstevens said he had "lost the confidence of local people, police officers and staff" and there was "now a detrimental impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of him leading Avon and Somerset Constabulary". | But Ms Mountstevens said he had "lost the confidence of local people, police officers and staff" and there was "now a detrimental impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of him leading Avon and Somerset Constabulary". |
| It is a long way from their joint appearance before MPs in January 2014, when their "harmonious" working relationship was held up as an example of good practice. | It is a long way from their joint appearance before MPs in January 2014, when their "harmonious" working relationship was held up as an example of good practice. |
| Ms Mountstevens told MPs that day, she had to ensure "that it does not become too cosy a relationship, because I hold him to account". | Ms Mountstevens told MPs that day, she had to ensure "that it does not become too cosy a relationship, because I hold him to account". |