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| Change urged after 'groping' case | Change urged after 'groping' case |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| A sexual harassment case investigation has recommended that the Welsh Assembly Government's "Dignity at Work" policy is suspended or scrapped. | |
| The inquiry began when a manager was found in county court to have harassed a female colleague, after he had been cleared by an assembly investigation. | The inquiry began when a manager was found in county court to have harassed a female colleague, after he had been cleared by an assembly investigation. |
| Christine Davies took civil action against highways chief Graham Evans. | Christine Davies took civil action against highways chief Graham Evans. |
| The review recommendations included one that disciplinary or grievance procedures should be used instead. | |
| The independent review, led by Kim Howell of commercial legal firm Geldards, reinterviewed both Mrs Davies, 52, and Mr Evans, 54. | |
| The main conclusion I take... is that it is essential for staff working for the assembly government to conduct themselves properly at all times and treat their colleagues appropriately Sir Jon Shortridge, retiring permanent secretary, Welsh assembly | The main conclusion I take... is that it is essential for staff working for the assembly government to conduct themselves properly at all times and treat their colleagues appropriately Sir Jon Shortridge, retiring permanent secretary, Welsh assembly |
| In 2003, Mrs Davies, from Penarth, an official in the assembly government's transport department, made a series of allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Evans, from Caerphilly, who was a senior manager in her department. | In 2003, Mrs Davies, from Penarth, an official in the assembly government's transport department, made a series of allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Evans, from Caerphilly, who was a senior manager in her department. |
| Her complaints were dealt with by officials under the Dignity at Work procedure which found insufficient evidence to uphold her complaints. | Her complaints were dealt with by officials under the Dignity at Work procedure which found insufficient evidence to uphold her complaints. |
| The county court case in January heard Mrs Davies describe how she was assaulted by Mr Evans outside the ladies' toilet in the Gassy Jacks pub in Cardiff on July 18, 2003 - the day she learned she had been promoted. | The county court case in January heard Mrs Davies describe how she was assaulted by Mr Evans outside the ladies' toilet in the Gassy Jacks pub in Cardiff on July 18, 2003 - the day she learned she had been promoted. |
| Mr Evans denied "groping" her and making lewd comments, but the judge upheld her complaint. | Mr Evans denied "groping" her and making lewd comments, but the judge upheld her complaint. |
| Judge Patrick Curran QC said Mr Evans had made unsolicited calls to Mrs Davies over seven months.Christine Davies took legal action after the assembly inquiry | Judge Patrick Curran QC said Mr Evans had made unsolicited calls to Mrs Davies over seven months.Christine Davies took legal action after the assembly inquiry |
| During the hearing, Mr Evans said he believed Mrs Davies was seeking revenge on him and had fabricated the claims. | During the hearing, Mr Evans said he believed Mrs Davies was seeking revenge on him and had fabricated the claims. |
| Grievance procedures | Grievance procedures |
| It emerged last month that Mr Evans had resigned from his job. | It emerged last month that Mr Evans had resigned from his job. |
| The legal review concluded there was no evidence that any assembly government officials tried to cover up the allegations by Mrs Davies. | The legal review concluded there was no evidence that any assembly government officials tried to cover up the allegations by Mrs Davies. |
| It also concluded the decision they came to on the basis of evidence was reasonable. | It also concluded the decision they came to on the basis of evidence was reasonable. |
| But it recommended the Dignity at Work procedures should be suspended or even scrapped, and disciplinary or grievance procedures employed instead. | But it recommended the Dignity at Work procedures should be suspended or even scrapped, and disciplinary or grievance procedures employed instead. |
| Sir Jon Shortridge, the outgoing top civil servant in the assembly who commissioned the investigation, said: "It identifies certain deficiencies in the process we followed but concludes robustly that the conclusions reached through our Dignity at Work procedures were reasonable under the circumstance. | |
| "The main conclusion I take from the report is that it is essential for staff working for the assembly government to conduct themselves properly at all times and treat their colleagues appropriately." | "The main conclusion I take from the report is that it is essential for staff working for the assembly government to conduct themselves properly at all times and treat their colleagues appropriately." |
| Sir Jon added: "This case has shown that where members of staff fall below this standard they create problems for themselves, their colleagues and for the organisation." | Sir Jon added: "This case has shown that where members of staff fall below this standard they create problems for themselves, their colleagues and for the organisation." |
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