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Senior Northumbria police officers 'used flat at force's HQ for affair' Senior Northumbria police officers 'used flat at force's HQ for affair'
(about 7 hours later)
Senior police officers used force accommodation to carry on “illicit relations” to the point that the flats were jokingly nicknamed “love pads”, an employment tribunal has heard.Senior police officers used force accommodation to carry on “illicit relations” to the point that the flats were jokingly nicknamed “love pads”, an employment tribunal has heard.
Rumours about an alleged affair between ex-Northumbria police chief constable Mike Craik and assistant chief constable Carolyn Peacock, which was said to have resulted in Craik being punched by Peacock’s husband at a barbecue, spread so far that local solicitors had heard the story, the hearing was told.Rumours about an alleged affair between ex-Northumbria police chief constable Mike Craik and assistant chief constable Carolyn Peacock, which was said to have resulted in Craik being punched by Peacock’s husband at a barbecue, spread so far that local solicitors had heard the story, the hearing was told.
Glossy posters of Craik displayed in Northumbria police stations were defaced with marker pen, showing him with a “blacked over” eye, retired PC Bryn Jones said in a statement.Glossy posters of Craik displayed in Northumbria police stations were defaced with marker pen, showing him with a “blacked over” eye, retired PC Bryn Jones said in a statement.
Jones said it was long suspected the senior officers used accommodation behind the headquarters to conduct their relationship.Jones said it was long suspected the senior officers used accommodation behind the headquarters to conduct their relationship.
He gave evidence to the employment tribunal at North Shields, North Tyneside, in support of Denise Aubrey, the force’s director of legal services, who was sacked for gross misconduct in 2014.He gave evidence to the employment tribunal at North Shields, North Tyneside, in support of Denise Aubrey, the force’s director of legal services, who was sacked for gross misconduct in 2014.
She was accused of gossiping about the alleged affair, after having given confidential advice to the police chief about libel.She was accused of gossiping about the alleged affair, after having given confidential advice to the police chief about libel.
But retired chief constable Sue Sim has told the tribunal she was wrong to want rid of Aubrey, 54, having now seen the evidence.But retired chief constable Sue Sim has told the tribunal she was wrong to want rid of Aubrey, 54, having now seen the evidence.
Assistant chief constable Greg Vant and Craik’s secretary, Juliet Bains, were also said to have had an affair, the tribunal has been told.Assistant chief constable Greg Vant and Craik’s secretary, Juliet Bains, were also said to have had an affair, the tribunal has been told.
Jones, who was a Police Federation representative, said in his statement: “I can say categorically that as far as I am concerned the relationships were far from confidential and it would be inconceivable that rank and file officers within the respondent force were not aware of them.Jones, who was a Police Federation representative, said in his statement: “I can say categorically that as far as I am concerned the relationships were far from confidential and it would be inconceivable that rank and file officers within the respondent force were not aware of them.
“I would also suggest that matters were very much in the public domain being the subject of gossip by local criminal solicitors.”“I would also suggest that matters were very much in the public domain being the subject of gossip by local criminal solicitors.”
He said “many” officers were summoned to briefings in late June or early July 2007 by their shift inspectors, where they were told the barbecue incident at Craik’s house had not occurred.He said “many” officers were summoned to briefings in late June or early July 2007 by their shift inspectors, where they were told the barbecue incident at Craik’s house had not occurred.
“In fact rumours were already rife about this as I understand a number of force posters of Mr Craik had been damaged with one of his eyes blacked over with a marker pen – referring to the fact he had been involved in a fight,” he said.“In fact rumours were already rife about this as I understand a number of force posters of Mr Craik had been damaged with one of his eyes blacked over with a marker pen – referring to the fact he had been involved in a fight,” he said.
Staff were warned anyone caught doing this would be treated as “having committed criminal damage”, Jones said.Staff were warned anyone caught doing this would be treated as “having committed criminal damage”, Jones said.
Officers were warned not to look up details of the alleged incident on the police log as they might be held to account by the professional standards department, and “any search was in any event pointless as the incident did not take place and there was no log of it”, he said.Officers were warned not to look up details of the alleged incident on the police log as they might be held to account by the professional standards department, and “any search was in any event pointless as the incident did not take place and there was no log of it”, he said.
Jones said it was thought Craik heard rumours his secretary was having an affair with Vant.Jones said it was thought Craik heard rumours his secretary was having an affair with Vant.
In his statement, he said: “There was also a suggestion Mr Craik was furious about this. Apparently not only was it known that he was himself fond of Ms Bains but also that Mr Vant, when confronted about the matter had lied to him and had apparently taken advantage of her with his rank.In his statement, he said: “There was also a suggestion Mr Craik was furious about this. Apparently not only was it known that he was himself fond of Ms Bains but also that Mr Vant, when confronted about the matter had lied to him and had apparently taken advantage of her with his rank.
“Again, and I know this was widely known by many of my colleagues because it was discussed, many were particularly angered at what was seen as a member of senior management ‘getting away with it’.”“Again, and I know this was widely known by many of my colleagues because it was discussed, many were particularly angered at what was seen as a member of senior management ‘getting away with it’.”
Soon after, Vant joined Merseyside police, Jones said. He said to his knowledge there was no question of Vant being disciplined.Soon after, Vant joined Merseyside police, Jones said. He said to his knowledge there was no question of Vant being disciplined.
“This would contrast sharply with my experiences as a federation representative having seen far worse consequences for more junior officers that had behaved in a not dissimilar way.”“This would contrast sharply with my experiences as a federation representative having seen far worse consequences for more junior officers that had behaved in a not dissimilar way.”
He added: “Another factor that no doubt caused considerable ill feeling towards the rank and file staff was the use of police premises to carry on his exploits.He added: “Another factor that no doubt caused considerable ill feeling towards the rank and file staff was the use of police premises to carry on his exploits.
“There were accommodation facilities at Ponteland behind the respondent’s headquarters and it was long suspected that this was frequently used by those in senior management to conduct illicit relations – Mr Vant being among them.“There were accommodation facilities at Ponteland behind the respondent’s headquarters and it was long suspected that this was frequently used by those in senior management to conduct illicit relations – Mr Vant being among them.
“This became such a joke that they were nicknamed the ‘love pads’.”“This became such a joke that they were nicknamed the ‘love pads’.”
Under cross-examination by Angus Moon QC for the police, Jones said retired colleagues still laughed about the alleged affair involving their former chief constable, asking each other: “Can you remember about the incident that never happened?”Under cross-examination by Angus Moon QC for the police, Jones said retired colleagues still laughed about the alleged affair involving their former chief constable, asking each other: “Can you remember about the incident that never happened?”
He said the gossip about senior officers was a source of “great humour” for staff.He said the gossip about senior officers was a source of “great humour” for staff.
He told the tribunal: “Officers on the ground are under a lot of pressure with discipline hanging over them.He told the tribunal: “Officers on the ground are under a lot of pressure with discipline hanging over them.
“When something like this occurs it becomes quite rife with gossip. It is quite uplifting for people on the ground floor, sad as it may be.”“When something like this occurs it becomes quite rife with gossip. It is quite uplifting for people on the ground floor, sad as it may be.”
During the tribunal Vant made an unsuccessful application to the judge to reimpose a reporting restriction, lifted last week, which would prevent him and Bains from being named by the media. They have denied having at an affair at work, saying they got together after both had left the force.
In an address to the tribunal, Vant said: “There was no harassment, there was no evidence of harassment and no complaint of harassment, we were simply friends.
“There was no affair between us at the time, there was no evidence of an affair at the time, and there was absolutely, definitely no physical contact between either of us in the workplace.”
Both were long-term servants of Northumbria police, he said, and “conducted ourselves with the utmost professionalism at work at all times”.
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.
• This article was amended on 11 May 2016 to add the statment Greg Vant made to the tribunal