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'Plebgate': Police officers face MPs over Mitchell meeting 'Plebgate': Police officers face MPs over Mitchell meeting
(35 minutes later)
Three police officers accused of trying to discredit former chief whip Andrew Mitchell during the "plebgate" row are to appear before MPs.Three police officers accused of trying to discredit former chief whip Andrew Mitchell during the "plebgate" row are to appear before MPs.
The officers have been accused by the police watchdog of misrepresenting Mr Mitchell after a meeting they had following claims he called Downing Street police officers "plebs".The officers have been accused by the police watchdog of misrepresenting Mr Mitchell after a meeting they had following claims he called Downing Street police officers "plebs".
Mr Mitchell, who has always denied the claim, later resigned from the cabinet.Mr Mitchell, who has always denied the claim, later resigned from the cabinet.
On Monday, the three officers said they had not planned to mislead the public.On Monday, the three officers said they had not planned to mislead the public.
Also on Wednesday, the officers' chief constables are due to appear before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, to be questioned about why they decided the three should not face disciplinary action over their meeting with Mr Mitchell.Also on Wednesday, the officers' chief constables are due to appear before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, to be questioned about why they decided the three should not face disciplinary action over their meeting with Mr Mitchell.
The row between Mr Mitchell and the police intensified after the original allegation, that he called police "plebs" for not allowing him to ride his bike through the Downing Street gates, when three representatives of the Police Federation met the MP at his constituency office in Sutton Coldfield.The row between Mr Mitchell and the police intensified after the original allegation, that he called police "plebs" for not allowing him to ride his bike through the Downing Street gates, when three representatives of the Police Federation met the MP at his constituency office in Sutton Coldfield.
According to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), Mr Mitchell thought he was meeting Insp Ken MacKaill, of West Mercia Police, Det Sgt Stuart Hinton, of Warwickshire Police, and Sgt Chris Jones, of West Midlands Police, to "clear the air".According to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), Mr Mitchell thought he was meeting Insp Ken MacKaill, of West Mercia Police, Det Sgt Stuart Hinton, of Warwickshire Police, and Sgt Chris Jones, of West Midlands Police, to "clear the air".
However, in comments made after the meeting, one of the officers, Inspector MacKaill, claimed the former chief whip would not provide an account of the incident, and called for his resignation.However, in comments made after the meeting, one of the officers, Inspector MacKaill, claimed the former chief whip would not provide an account of the incident, and called for his resignation.
But Mr Mitchell had recorded the meeting, and a transcript showed that he apologised for swearing at the police officers and had denied using the word "plebs".But Mr Mitchell had recorded the meeting, and a transcript showed that he apologised for swearing at the police officers and had denied using the word "plebs".
'Professional judgement''Professional judgement'
West Mercia Police conducted an internal investigation into claims the three officers were trying to discredit Mr Mitchell and concluded that there was no case to answer for misconduct or gross misconduct.West Mercia Police conducted an internal investigation into claims the three officers were trying to discredit Mr Mitchell and concluded that there was no case to answer for misconduct or gross misconduct.
It said that there was no deliberate intention to lie to journalists. But last week the IPCC - which oversaw the West Mercia investigation - said it disagreed.It said that there was no deliberate intention to lie to journalists. But last week the IPCC - which oversaw the West Mercia investigation - said it disagreed.
Deputy chair of the IPCC Deborah Glass said: "In my opinion the evidence indicates an issue of honesty and integrity, not merely naive or poor professional judgement."Deputy chair of the IPCC Deborah Glass said: "In my opinion the evidence indicates an issue of honesty and integrity, not merely naive or poor professional judgement."
The officers have since said they regret giving the statement, but Mr Mitchell's allies have dubbed this a "regretful non-apology".The officers have since said they regret giving the statement, but Mr Mitchell's allies have dubbed this a "regretful non-apology".
'Very unsatisfactory'
Asked whether he believed the apology should be the end of the matter, former policing minister Nick Herbert said: "No, I don't think it is enough."
The Conservative MP told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It doesn't square with the IPCC findings that there is a case to answer for serious misconduct. The wording of the IPCC report, let's just remind ourselves, was incredibly strong.
"They suggest that the police officers gave a false account, that there was a deliberate attempt to discredit Andrew Mitchell, that their motives seem plain: they were pursuing a political agenda.
"Now when the independent body says this, it is surely right that action is taken and it is very unsatisfactory that we have a situation where the leadership of the police force appears to disagree and take no action in spite of the view of the independent body that was set up to deal with complaints."
Meanwhile, a ComRes poll for the BBC suggests 82% of people are still likely to believe what the police say.Meanwhile, a ComRes poll for the BBC suggests 82% of people are still likely to believe what the police say.
Of the 1,000 people questioned, 67% said plebgate had made "no difference" to their opinion, while 26% responded that it had made them "slightly less" or "much less" likely to trust the police.Of the 1,000 people questioned, 67% said plebgate had made "no difference" to their opinion, while 26% responded that it had made them "slightly less" or "much less" likely to trust the police.