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Surrey crime commissioner under fire for criticising new NCA chief Surrey crime commissioner under fire for criticising new NCA chief
(7 months later)
The police and crime commissioner for Surrey, Kevin Hurley, is facing a social media backlash after publicly criticising the appointment of his former chief constable as head of the National Crime Agency.The police and crime commissioner for Surrey, Kevin Hurley, is facing a social media backlash after publicly criticising the appointment of his former chief constable as head of the National Crime Agency.
Crispin Blunt, the former Conservative minister and Surrey MP, said he was “open-mouthed in astonishment” listening to Hurley’s attack on the new NCA head, Lynne Owens, on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, adding: “Surely he’s not going to stand for re-election now?”Crispin Blunt, the former Conservative minister and Surrey MP, said he was “open-mouthed in astonishment” listening to Hurley’s attack on the new NCA head, Lynne Owens, on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, adding: “Surely he’s not going to stand for re-election now?”
The criminologist and journalist Mark Williams-Thomas tweeted: “Have to say I rate @NCA Lynne Owens much higher than Surrey PCC Kevin Hurley. Very surprised to see the words used by Hurley in his report.”The criminologist and journalist Mark Williams-Thomas tweeted: “Have to say I rate @NCA Lynne Owens much higher than Surrey PCC Kevin Hurley. Very surprised to see the words used by Hurley in his report.”
Hurley, who describes himself as “an ex-cop and soldier keeping politics out of policing”, had been a strong supporter of his chief constable – extending her contract in 2012 and writing to the home secretary in 2014 to say Owens had had “an outstanding year”.Hurley, who describes himself as “an ex-cop and soldier keeping politics out of policing”, had been a strong supporter of his chief constable – extending her contract in 2012 and writing to the home secretary in 2014 to say Owens had had “an outstanding year”.
But that appears to have changed in recent months. Hurley said he had considered dismissing Owens in October after a series of highly critical inspection reports on Surrey police’s record on public protection and child-safeguarding work.But that appears to have changed in recent months. Hurley said he had considered dismissing Owens in October after a series of highly critical inspection reports on Surrey police’s record on public protection and child-safeguarding work.
Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) include a 10-page letter from Hurley to Owens written in September, in which he tells her that blaming others for “a litany of failures” was an “example of moral cowardice”. Owens denied his “ill-considered and inaccurate” claims in a 19-page rebuttal.Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) include a 10-page letter from Hurley to Owens written in September, in which he tells her that blaming others for “a litany of failures” was an “example of moral cowardice”. Owens denied his “ill-considered and inaccurate” claims in a 19-page rebuttal.
Hurley also wrote to the chief inspector of constabulary in October, saying he had lost confidence in Owens after claiming that the Surrey force was “failing vulnerable children, rape and domestic violence victims”.Hurley also wrote to the chief inspector of constabulary in October, saying he had lost confidence in Owens after claiming that the Surrey force was “failing vulnerable children, rape and domestic violence victims”.
The criticism focused on the Surrey force’s handling of the case of 14-year-old Breck Bednar, who was murdered in 2014 after being groomed online.The criticism focused on the Surrey force’s handling of the case of 14-year-old Breck Bednar, who was murdered in 2014 after being groomed online.
Related: I couldn’t save my child from being killed by an online predator
Owens saw off strong competition in November to be appointed director general of the NCA – one of the most senior roles in British policing.Owens saw off strong competition in November to be appointed director general of the NCA – one of the most senior roles in British policing.
Hurley says he was not consulted by the Home Office about Owens’s suitability for the job and only found out about the appointment on Twitter. He told the BBC that he would have started a formal dismissal process had she not been appointed.Hurley says he was not consulted by the Home Office about Owens’s suitability for the job and only found out about the appointment on Twitter. He told the BBC that he would have started a formal dismissal process had she not been appointed.
The Home Office strongly defended Owens on Tuesday describing her as “one of the exceptional policing leaders of her generation who will lead the NCA forward in its vital role of tackling a full range of serious and organised crime threats, including cybercrime, child sexual abuse, firearms and money laundering.”The Home Office strongly defended Owens on Tuesday describing her as “one of the exceptional policing leaders of her generation who will lead the NCA forward in its vital role of tackling a full range of serious and organised crime threats, including cybercrime, child sexual abuse, firearms and money laundering.”
Jim Gamble, former chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), which is now part of the NCA, also questioned why Hurley had raised concerns only recently.Jim Gamble, former chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), which is now part of the NCA, also questioned why Hurley had raised concerns only recently.
“It’s not as clear as it is being made out to be, I think,” he told Today. “If you wanted to dismiss your chief constable, you don’t wait until after they are in a new job to do it. There has been plenty of time. Kevin has been a PCC since 2012.“It’s not as clear as it is being made out to be, I think,” he told Today. “If you wanted to dismiss your chief constable, you don’t wait until after they are in a new job to do it. There has been plenty of time. Kevin has been a PCC since 2012.
“There is just something about this entire debate, this entire conversation, that doesn’t seem right to me.”“There is just something about this entire debate, this entire conversation, that doesn’t seem right to me.”
Hurley, along with other police and crime commissioners, will face re-election for the first time in May. He sparked controversy last month when he claimed the Calais refugee camp was a potential hiding place for Islamic State jihadis after he received a hostile reception during his visit with a personal security guard and a BBC camera crew.Hurley, along with other police and crime commissioners, will face re-election for the first time in May. He sparked controversy last month when he claimed the Calais refugee camp was a potential hiding place for Islamic State jihadis after he received a hostile reception during his visit with a personal security guard and a BBC camera crew.