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| MPs criticise police inquiry into leak of commissioner's chauffeur bill | MPs criticise police inquiry into leak of commissioner's chauffeur bill |
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| MPs have expressed concern over the arrest of three people in connection with a leak to the press about the Cumbrian crime commissioner's £700 chauffeur bill. | MPs have expressed concern over the arrest of three people in connection with a leak to the press about the Cumbrian crime commissioner's £700 chauffeur bill. |
| On Thursday police made the third arrest in their investigation, holding a 54-year-old man from Penrith on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. | On Thursday police made the third arrest in their investigation, holding a 54-year-old man from Penrith on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. |
| A Cumbria police spokeswoman confirmed that the investigation began following a complaint from the office of Richard Rhodes, who has been police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Cumbria since November. | |
| Last week two police employees were arrested on suspicion of data protection offences and misconduct in a public office. They are currently suspended from the constabulary. The third suspect is not an employee of the force. | Last week two police employees were arrested on suspicion of data protection offences and misconduct in a public office. They are currently suspended from the constabulary. The third suspect is not an employee of the force. |
| Tim Farron, president of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale in the south Lakes, said: "Politicians of all colours regularly praise whistleblowers, and it is wrong to seek to silence whistleblowers in this case. Details of the expenses of public officials ought to be publicly available anyway, we shouldn't have to rely on leaks to find these things out. | Tim Farron, president of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale in the south Lakes, said: "Politicians of all colours regularly praise whistleblowers, and it is wrong to seek to silence whistleblowers in this case. Details of the expenses of public officials ought to be publicly available anyway, we shouldn't have to rely on leaks to find these things out. |
| "This information was in the public interest, and I'm sure could have been accessed by a simple FOI request. Most councils publish this information on a regular basis so why not the police commissioner? To arrest these staff members is high-handed, a threat to free speech and a very dangerous precedent." | "This information was in the public interest, and I'm sure could have been accessed by a simple FOI request. Most councils publish this information on a regular basis so why not the police commissioner? To arrest these staff members is high-handed, a threat to free speech and a very dangerous precedent." |
| Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland in west Cumbria, wrote to the home secretary, Theresa May, on Thursday asking her to investigate what he said appeared to be "indefensible" behaviour on Rhodes's part. | Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland in west Cumbria, wrote to the home secretary, Theresa May, on Thursday asking her to investigate what he said appeared to be "indefensible" behaviour on Rhodes's part. |
| He wrote: "It is widely reported that these arrests followed a complaint from the police and crime commissioner's own office to the chief constable. If true, this is clearly indefensible. Such an act would not only damage the office of the Cumbria police and crime commissioner beyond repair but, more importantly, damage the reputation of the Cumbria constabulary. | He wrote: "It is widely reported that these arrests followed a complaint from the police and crime commissioner's own office to the chief constable. If true, this is clearly indefensible. Such an act would not only damage the office of the Cumbria police and crime commissioner beyond repair but, more importantly, damage the reputation of the Cumbria constabulary. |
| "As a matter of urgency, I ask that you determine the facts of this case as quickly as possible so that these matters can be resolved beyond doubt." | "As a matter of urgency, I ask that you determine the facts of this case as quickly as possible so that these matters can be resolved beyond doubt." |
| Reed told the Guardian: "This is a gravely serious matter which shakes public confidence in the police." | Reed told the Guardian: "This is a gravely serious matter which shakes public confidence in the police." |
| The first two arrests followed a report in the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald revealing that Rhodes claimed £700 for two chauffeur-driven trips around the Lakes. | The first two arrests followed a report in the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald revealing that Rhodes claimed £700 for two chauffeur-driven trips around the Lakes. |
| Police have since made two visits to the newspaper's offices in Penrith and asked the editor to hand over documentation that could reveal the source of the story. He refused. | Police have since made two visits to the newspaper's offices in Penrith and asked the editor to hand over documentation that could reveal the source of the story. He refused. |
| Thursday's arrest came after police gained a warrant to search a property in the town. A police spokeswoman said: "A 54-year-old man from Penrith, who is not an employee of Cumbria constabulary, was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice following a warrant that was carried out by police at a property in the town. He remains in police custody. | Thursday's arrest came after police gained a warrant to search a property in the town. A police spokeswoman said: "A 54-year-old man from Penrith, who is not an employee of Cumbria constabulary, was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice following a warrant that was carried out by police at a property in the town. He remains in police custody. |
| "These arrests form part of an ongoing investigation by Cumbria constabulary which was launched after police received concerns that confidential information was leaked to the media relating to the police and crime commissioner. Initial concerns were raised by a member of staff within the office of the police and crime commissioner (OPCC) after a member of the local media approached the OPCC for a comment on a story they intended to publish." | "These arrests form part of an ongoing investigation by Cumbria constabulary which was launched after police received concerns that confidential information was leaked to the media relating to the police and crime commissioner. Initial concerns were raised by a member of staff within the office of the police and crime commissioner (OPCC) after a member of the local media approached the OPCC for a comment on a story they intended to publish." |
| Rhodes said in a statement: "Operational policing matters are the responsibility of the chief constable. I do not have the powers to instigate or influence an operational policing investigation and the decision to commence an investigation has been made by solely the chief constable. | Rhodes said in a statement: "Operational policing matters are the responsibility of the chief constable. I do not have the powers to instigate or influence an operational policing investigation and the decision to commence an investigation has been made by solely the chief constable. |
| "Nothing more than concerns were raised by my office to the constabulary and a criminal investigation was not requested. All subsequent actions and decisions have been made solely by the constabulary, which has the responsibility of the day-to-day management of staff which provide administration support to the office. | "Nothing more than concerns were raised by my office to the constabulary and a criminal investigation was not requested. All subsequent actions and decisions have been made solely by the constabulary, which has the responsibility of the day-to-day management of staff which provide administration support to the office. |
| "I have not had any involvement or input into how the constabulary has dealt with this matter. However, I am mindful that one of my key principles is to scrutinise the constabulary, and as a result of complaints raised I have asked the chief constable to review as a matter of urgency the scale and nature of the investigation." | |
| Theresa May told the Home Affairs Select Committee on Thursday she would look into the claims but stressed that PCCs were ultimately "accountable to the electorate" and the public will decide if they have "done their job properly". | |
| Committee member David Winnick asked the home secretary: "Do you accept in some instances police and crime commissioners have given the impression that they're on a spending spree and really enjoying themselves?" | |
| May said she did not accept that adding: "The whole point is the PCCs will be accountable to their electorate." | |
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