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'Plebgate' row: Officer cleared of misconduct | 'Plebgate' row: Officer cleared of misconduct |
(35 minutes later) | |
A detective who was accused of giving a misleading account of an interview with Andrew Mitchell at the height of the "plebgate" row has been cleared of misconduct. | |
Det Sgt Stuart Hinton had praised the Tory MP for his "candour" at a meeting in 2012 before telling the BBC he had been evasive, a tribunal heard. | Det Sgt Stuart Hinton had praised the Tory MP for his "candour" at a meeting in 2012 before telling the BBC he had been evasive, a tribunal heard. |
However, the officer's barrister said hindsight had supported his view. | However, the officer's barrister said hindsight had supported his view. |
Det Sgt Hinton has been cleared of breaching policing honesty standards. | Det Sgt Hinton has been cleared of breaching policing honesty standards. |
The "plebgate" row centred on a 15-second confrontation in September 2012 between Mr Mitchell and PC Toby Rowland, in which - according to the Sun newspaper - the then Conservative chief whip called the officer a "pleb" for his refusal to permit him to cycle through the main gates at Downing Street. | The "plebgate" row centred on a 15-second confrontation in September 2012 between Mr Mitchell and PC Toby Rowland, in which - according to the Sun newspaper - the then Conservative chief whip called the officer a "pleb" for his refusal to permit him to cycle through the main gates at Downing Street. |
Mr Mitchell was forced to resign from the cabinet over the row but vowed to clear his name in the libel courts, launching an action against the Sun. | Mr Mitchell was forced to resign from the cabinet over the row but vowed to clear his name in the libel courts, launching an action against the Sun. |
But a judge ruled in 2014 that the MP probably had called PC Rowland a "pleb" and Mr Mitchell was ordered to pay damages as well as the Sun's legal costs. | But a judge ruled in 2014 that the MP probably had called PC Rowland a "pleb" and Mr Mitchell was ordered to pay damages as well as the Sun's legal costs. |
Det Sgt Hinton and two other Police Federation representatives met Mr Mitchell at his constituency office on 12 October 2012, three weeks after the incident at Downing Street. | Det Sgt Hinton and two other Police Federation representatives met Mr Mitchell at his constituency office on 12 October 2012, three weeks after the incident at Downing Street. |
The serving Warwickshire Police officer had been accused of giving a false impression of Mr Mitchell's explanation of the incident when he was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live the next day. | The serving Warwickshire Police officer had been accused of giving a false impression of Mr Mitchell's explanation of the incident when he was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live the next day. |
But a misconduct panel at the force's former headquarters found his on-air comments did not amount to dishonesty, discreditable conduct or a breach of integrity. | But a misconduct panel at the force's former headquarters found his on-air comments did not amount to dishonesty, discreditable conduct or a breach of integrity. |
Det Sgt Hinton's barrister Adrian Keeling had previously told the hearing a man of "integrity" had been charged with "inaccurately reporting the lies told by a dishonest man". | |
"Hindsight absolutely supports Sgt Hinton's honest, accurate and candid view, relying on his good sense and judgement, which no doubt which he's relied upon all these years [as a detective]," said Mr Keeling. | |
A string of glowing references from senior officers, including a retired chief constable, had also described Det Sgt Hinton's character as "beyond reproach". |