This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22905585

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Gwent Police: Police chief sacking review urged Gwent Police: Questions raised by Carwyn Jones over PCC row
(about 1 hour later)
The home secretary has been urged to review police and crime commissioners' powers to sack chief constables after Gwent's top officer was forced out. Questions about why Gwent Police's top officer was ordered to "retire or be removed" by the force's police and crime commissioner need to be answered, Wales' first minister has said.
Carmel Napier was told to "retire or be removed" by Gwent commissioner Ian Johnston, it emerged earlier this week. Carmel Napier retired from the force on 7 June. Days later Gwent PCC Ian Johnston said he had told her to go.
The president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, Sir Hugh Orde has called for a meeting with Theresa May to discuss concerns over the issue.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said Mrs Napier's retirement raised questions.First Minister Carwyn Jones said Mrs Napier's retirement raised questions.
Gwent's former chief constable announced last Friday she was to retire after 30 years in policing. Meanwhile, a senior police officer has called for a meeting with the home secretary to discuss concerns.
But it emerged on Tuesday that she had been forced out after a series of rows with Mr Johnston. Mrs Napier, who had spent 30 years in policing, announced her retirement with immediate effect last Friday.
It followed other problems between chief constables and police and crime commissioners (PCCs). Four days later, it emerged that she had been forced out after a series of rows with Mr Johnston.
In February, Lincolnshire's chief constable, Neil Rhodes, was suspended by the area's PCC, Alan Hardwick, only for a judge to order his reinstatement. Mr Johnston - a former chief superintendent in the Gwent force with more than 30 years service - confirmed his ultimatum to Mrs Napier.
The High Court has also had to resolve a bitter power struggle between Avon and Somerset's PCC, Sue Mountstevens and Colin Port, who left as chief constable after eight years. It was only revealed after documents were leaked to the South Wales Argus.
Sir Hugh said PCCs - who replaced police authorities in 41 areas outside London during elections held last November - had a "huge amount of power".
He said the legislation which set up the new structure in England and Wales needed reviewing to ensure that decisions on dismissals were more carefully scrutinised.
"The legislation has removed all checks and balances around appointments and dismissals, " he told BBC News. "It's the worst system you can possibly have".
He pointed out that under the previous system HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) could be called on to help resolve difficulties when there was a dispute between a chief constable and a police authority.
Police authorities, made up of local councillors, magistrates and independent members, had powers to dismiss chief constables.
Under current laws, a decision to remove a chief constable must be referred to the local Police and Crime Panel, consisting of 10 - 20 members, who may ask for a report from HMIC - but the Panel has no power of veto, and the final decision rests with the PCC.
Sir Hugh, formerly the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said he was concerned that police "operational independence" could be put at risk if chiefs were concerned that their jobs were at risk.
'Legal advice'
Mr Johnston was submitting a report to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee on Friday explaining his decision to ask Mrs Napier to retire.
The PCC, a former president of the Police Superintendents Association, insisted that he'd adhered to the correct procedures.
"What we will be saying in the response is that we've followed the letter of the law absolutely," he said.
"You'd be astounded if I'd not taken legal advice from the very outset with this process - and top legal advice."
He previously confirmed his ultimatum to Mrs Napier - which was only revealed after documents were leaked to the South Wales Argus.
He criticised Mrs Napier's management style and said the relationship "was never going to work".He criticised Mrs Napier's management style and said the relationship "was never going to work".
But Mrs Napier fought back with a strongly-worded statement, which urged the government to consider whether crime commissioners' powers were compromising police independence in operational matters.But Mrs Napier fought back with a strongly-worded statement, which urged the government to consider whether crime commissioners' powers were compromising police independence in operational matters.
She said she was concerned whether the power of PCCs "adequately protects the independence of operating policing in England and Wales".
Mr Johnston's actions have been criticised by MPs with one saying it amounted to bullying.Mr Johnston's actions have been criticised by MPs with one saying it amounted to bullying.
Mr Jones said the situation raised "lots of questions that have already been asked by some of the MPs and I think those questions need to be answered". But the PCC, a former president of the Police Superintendents' Association, insisted that he had adhered to the correct procedures and had "followed the letter of the law absolutely".
First Minister Carwyn Jones said the situation raised "lots of questions that have already been asked by some of the MPs and I think those questions need to be answered".
"The difficulty for police and crime commissioners is that they can promise lots of things but it's difficult to deliver unless you're someone who's very, very active," he said."The difficulty for police and crime commissioners is that they can promise lots of things but it's difficult to deliver unless you're someone who's very, very active," he said.
"You're relying on a chief constable to deliver what you want on the ground and when you have a scenario like this there are questions that are bound to be asked as to how it came about - what really was the reason behind the chief constable standing down?""You're relying on a chief constable to deliver what you want on the ground and when you have a scenario like this there are questions that are bound to be asked as to how it came about - what really was the reason behind the chief constable standing down?"
Meanwhile, Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, has said he wants to meet Theresa May to discuss the "huge" power granted to PCCs.
He said the current arrangement lacked scrutiny and he branded it "the worst system you can possibly have".
The Home Office said PCCs had given the electorate a "real say" over policing.