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| Carmel Napier 'bullied' into retiring as Gwent Police chief | Carmel Napier 'bullied' into retiring as Gwent Police chief |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ex-Gwent Police chief Carmel Napier said she was forced to resign following "menacing and bullying" treatment by the force's police commissioner. | Ex-Gwent Police chief Carmel Napier said she was forced to resign following "menacing and bullying" treatment by the force's police commissioner. |
| Speaking for the first time since quitting her post on 7 June, Mrs Napier said she had no idea Ian Johnston had any concerns about her performance. | Speaking for the first time since quitting her post on 7 June, Mrs Napier said she had no idea Ian Johnston had any concerns about her performance. |
| She said he came to her office and read out a document issuing an ultimatum - leave or face being forced out. | |
| Mr Johnston told a committee of MPs she was "unacceptably" unhelpful. | |
| They have both been called before the Home Affairs Committee in Westminster. | |
| Speaking on Tuesday, she told MPs: "I felt that the tone of the document and how he delivered it was both menacing and bullying. | Speaking on Tuesday, she told MPs: "I felt that the tone of the document and how he delivered it was both menacing and bullying. |
| "I felt actually from the tone of the note, that it was a clear threat - retire or resign. Or actually, horrible words 'I will humiliate and dismiss you'. That is what rang in my head." | "I felt actually from the tone of the note, that it was a clear threat - retire or resign. Or actually, horrible words 'I will humiliate and dismiss you'. That is what rang in my head." |
| Until now, Mrs Napier has not yet given her side of the controversy. | Until now, Mrs Napier has not yet given her side of the controversy. |
| 'Abrupt' | |
| Earlier, Mr Johnston defended his decision to ask Mrs Napier to retire, saying it was clear she was "hostile" to his role as Gwent's police and crime commissioner (PCC). | |
| He said he went to her office on 23 May with a document that he had drafted with a lawyer. | |
| He denied he issued the ultimatum because of a clash of personalities, saying Mrs Napier's attitude to his role meant he was unable to perform his statutory duties. | |
| Mr Johnston said the pair did not get off to a "very auspicious start" after he found out in his first week in the elected role that the chief constable had warned staff that anyone who had contact with him would be subject to disciplinary procedures. | |
| He also said when the pair discussed the closure of police stations in the force area - one of his statutory duties - she told him "it was nothing to do with me". | |
| He added that he believed her managerial style to be "unacceptably dismissive, abrupt and unhelpful". | |
| Last week Mr Johnston told a panel of councillors - the Gwent Police and Crime Panel which oversees the actions of the PCC - the force was in a "better place" without her. | Last week Mr Johnston told a panel of councillors - the Gwent Police and Crime Panel which oversees the actions of the PCC - the force was in a "better place" without her. |
| After Mrs Napier announced she was retiring from her 30-year career in policing, it emerged she had been forced out by Mr Johnston. | After Mrs Napier announced she was retiring from her 30-year career in policing, it emerged she had been forced out by Mr Johnston. |
| Mr Johnston, a former chief superintendent in the Gwent force with more than 30 years service, confirmed his ultimatum to Mrs Napier after documents were leaked to the South Wales Argus. | Mr Johnston, a former chief superintendent in the Gwent force with more than 30 years service, confirmed his ultimatum to Mrs Napier after documents were leaked to the South Wales Argus. |
| Until now, Mrs Napier's only comment on the issue had been a carefully-worded statement in which she asked whether PCC powers were compromising police independence. | |
| She called on the UK government to look again at the power of PCCs, which were first elected last year. | She called on the UK government to look again at the power of PCCs, which were first elected last year. |
| Under current laws, a decision to remove a chief constable must be referred to the local police and crime panel, consisting of 10 to 20 members, who may ask for a report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). | Under current laws, a decision to remove a chief constable must be referred to the local police and crime panel, consisting of 10 to 20 members, who may ask for a report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). |
| The panel has no power of veto and the final decision rests with the PCC. | The panel has no power of veto and the final decision rests with the PCC. |
| Last week Mr Johnston told his crime panel he had "overwhelming written evidence" to support his decision, which he said was within PCC guidelines. | Last week Mr Johnston told his crime panel he had "overwhelming written evidence" to support his decision, which he said was within PCC guidelines. |
| He said he would not reveal what the evidence was in case his decision was subject to judicial review. | He said he would not reveal what the evidence was in case his decision was subject to judicial review. |