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| Police inquiry into Neil McEvoy's secret recordings | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Police have launched an inquiry after a politician made secret recordings of the man who was in charge of overseeing three complaints about him. | |
| Welsh Assembly Member Neil McEvoy claimed his recordings of standards commissioner Sir Roderick Evans revealed sexism and bias. | |
| Sir Roderick, who resigned on Monday, said much of what had been shared was out of context and misleading. | Sir Roderick, who resigned on Monday, said much of what had been shared was out of context and misleading. |
| Independent AM Mr McEvoy said he had acted lawfully. | |
| South Wales Police said it had "commenced an investigation following a referral from the National Assembly for Wales concerning allegations of covert recordings". | South Wales Police said it had "commenced an investigation following a referral from the National Assembly for Wales concerning allegations of covert recordings". |
| Mr McEvoy's actions prompted a security sweep of the assembly estate. | Mr McEvoy's actions prompted a security sweep of the assembly estate. |
| Opening assembly business on Tuesday, presiding officer Elin Jones said police had been asked to look into how the recordings were made and investigate their legality. | Opening assembly business on Tuesday, presiding officer Elin Jones said police had been asked to look into how the recordings were made and investigate their legality. |
| "The covert recording of private conversations on the assembly estate is a serious breach of trust," she said. | "The covert recording of private conversations on the assembly estate is a serious breach of trust," she said. |
| She alleged the recordings included confidential evidence by a witness during an investigation into Mr McEvoy's conduct. | She alleged the recordings included confidential evidence by a witness during an investigation into Mr McEvoy's conduct. |
| Assembly authorities have begun the process of finding an acting commissioner and Ms Jones told the assembly no complaints would be dropped as a result of Sir Roderick's resignation. | Assembly authorities have begun the process of finding an acting commissioner and Ms Jones told the assembly no complaints would be dropped as a result of Sir Roderick's resignation. |
| Mr McEvoy recorded hearings held by the commissioner as he conducted his investigation into the former Plaid Cymru AM, using a mobile phone he said was either in his jacket, bag or on a table. | Mr McEvoy recorded hearings held by the commissioner as he conducted his investigation into the former Plaid Cymru AM, using a mobile phone he said was either in his jacket, bag or on a table. |
| They recorded conversations held while the South Wales Central AM was out of the room and others on the recordings were unaware he had made them. | They recorded conversations held while the South Wales Central AM was out of the room and others on the recordings were unaware he had made them. |
| Mr McEvoy defended his secret recordings of Sir Roderick and his staff in a press conference on Tuesday. | Mr McEvoy defended his secret recordings of Sir Roderick and his staff in a press conference on Tuesday. |
| Accusing Sir Roderick of presiding over a "locker room culture", he claimed the commissioner aired "really sexist views" about "female lawyers who - of course because they're female - they're emotional". | Accusing Sir Roderick of presiding over a "locker room culture", he claimed the commissioner aired "really sexist views" about "female lawyers who - of course because they're female - they're emotional". |
| He added: "There was a provocative and politically incorrect culture in the commissioner's office that came across through the recordings." | He added: "There was a provocative and politically incorrect culture in the commissioner's office that came across through the recordings." |
| Mr McEvoy alleged he heard a joke made about women politicians and a comment that former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood should "wind her neck in". | Mr McEvoy alleged he heard a joke made about women politicians and a comment that former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood should "wind her neck in". |
| Sir Roderick, a former high court judge and pro-chancellor of Swansea University, previously said Mr McEvoy's conduct was "wholly unacceptable" and "undermines the integrity of the complaints procedure". | Sir Roderick, a former high court judge and pro-chancellor of Swansea University, previously said Mr McEvoy's conduct was "wholly unacceptable" and "undermines the integrity of the complaints procedure". |
| The office of the standards commissioner had no further comment to make about Mr McEvoy's press conference. | The office of the standards commissioner had no further comment to make about Mr McEvoy's press conference. |
| The controversy erupted in the assembly chamber on Tuesday, when Brexit Party Senedd leader Mark Reckless was told by Ms Jones to stop quoting from a transcript of the recordings. | The controversy erupted in the assembly chamber on Tuesday, when Brexit Party Senedd leader Mark Reckless was told by Ms Jones to stop quoting from a transcript of the recordings. |
| She also demanded he withdraw an accusation that she was biased, to which he replied: "The truth or otherwise of the allegation, I withdraw it." | She also demanded he withdraw an accusation that she was biased, to which he replied: "The truth or otherwise of the allegation, I withdraw it." |
| What allegations is Neil McEvoy facing? | What allegations is Neil McEvoy facing? |
| He faces three investigations - one relating to £5,000 of building work on his constituency office. | He faces three investigations - one relating to £5,000 of building work on his constituency office. |
| In a transcript of the recordings released to the media by Mr McEvoy's office, Sir Roderick is reported saying the authenticity of two quotes "couldn't be demonstrated". | In a transcript of the recordings released to the media by Mr McEvoy's office, Sir Roderick is reported saying the authenticity of two quotes "couldn't be demonstrated". |
| "We have to consider if they are forgeries or whatever, [and] whether he should be reported to the police," he added. | "We have to consider if they are forgeries or whatever, [and] whether he should be reported to the police," he added. |
| Mr McEvoy said he had taken the cheapest quote available: "The quotes were nothing to do with me. I took them in good faith." | Mr McEvoy said he had taken the cheapest quote available: "The quotes were nothing to do with me. I took them in good faith." |
| He said the builder was "just somebody that I knew." | He said the builder was "just somebody that I knew." |
| The second matter was about him losing his temper with Labour AM Mick Antoniw - he admitted being "aggressive to him," but felt Mr Antoniw was arrogant. | The second matter was about him losing his temper with Labour AM Mick Antoniw - he admitted being "aggressive to him," but felt Mr Antoniw was arrogant. |
| "If the individual was really offended by my behaviour, and he was upset by it, then I apologise to Mick," he added. | "If the individual was really offended by my behaviour, and he was upset by it, then I apologise to Mick," he added. |
| He also faced an allegation he misused assembly funds for political campaigning. | He also faced an allegation he misused assembly funds for political campaigning. |
| Dismissing this, Mr McEvoy said: "Strange that, isn't it, a Plaid Cymru member using his office for the benefit of Plaid Cymru." | Dismissing this, Mr McEvoy said: "Strange that, isn't it, a Plaid Cymru member using his office for the benefit of Plaid Cymru." |
| He was a Plaid Cymru member until 2018, when he was expelled. | He was a Plaid Cymru member until 2018, when he was expelled. |