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| Bedfordshire PCC Olly Martins receives written warning | Bedfordshire PCC Olly Martins receives written warning |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bedfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has received a written warning for disclosing "confidential information" about the death of a man held in police custody. | Bedfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has received a written warning for disclosing "confidential information" about the death of a man held in police custody. |
| Leon Briggs, 39, died in hospital in November after being detained over concerns about his behaviour. | |
| PCC Olly Martins admitted passing on information about the investigation to a member of the Home Office. | PCC Olly Martins admitted passing on information about the investigation to a member of the Home Office. |
| The police and crime panel warned Mr Martins about his future conduct. | The police and crime panel warned Mr Martins about his future conduct. |
| The commissioner said he accepted the reprimand. | |
| Father-of-two Mr Briggs, of Ashburnham Road, Luton, was arrested on 4 November following concerns raised by members of the public. | Father-of-two Mr Briggs, of Ashburnham Road, Luton, was arrested on 4 November following concerns raised by members of the public. |
| He became ill at Luton police station and was taken to Luton and Dunstable Hospital, where he died. | He became ill at Luton police station and was taken to Luton and Dunstable Hospital, where he died. |
| 'Appropriate action' | 'Appropriate action' |
| An inquest into Mr Briggs' death was opened and adjourned last week, with the coroner saying he was awaiting the results of further tests following an inconclusive post-mortem examination. | An inquest into Mr Briggs' death was opened and adjourned last week, with the coroner saying he was awaiting the results of further tests following an inconclusive post-mortem examination. |
| An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into Mr Briggs's death is taking place and seven members of Bedfordshire force staff, including five police officers, have been suspended. | An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into Mr Briggs's death is taking place and seven members of Bedfordshire force staff, including five police officers, have been suspended. |
| The Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel met at Bedford Borough Council earlier. | The Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel met at Bedford Borough Council earlier. |
| Speaking after the hearing, Fiona Chapel, chairman of the panel, said: "[Mr Martins] was accused of, and has admitted, that he gave away confidential information which he shouldn't have done. | Speaking after the hearing, Fiona Chapel, chairman of the panel, said: "[Mr Martins] was accused of, and has admitted, that he gave away confidential information which he shouldn't have done. |
| "We have looked at all the information that was given to us, questioned him and listened to what he had to say. | "We have looked at all the information that was given to us, questioned him and listened to what he had to say. |
| "The police and crime panel take this very seriously and we have issued a written warning and said we wouldn't tolerate misdemeanour of the same sort." | "The police and crime panel take this very seriously and we have issued a written warning and said we wouldn't tolerate misdemeanour of the same sort." |
| In a statement, Mr Martins said: "To my great regret I discussed, purely with a close associate, some information that had been provided to me in my role as Police and Crime Commissioner regarding the death of Leon Briggs. | |
| "Unfortunately, the person to whom I spoke did not appreciate the sensitivity of what had been said, nor indeed completely understand it, and went on to repeat a garbled interpretation of it to a third party. | |
| "Every effort, I believe successfully, was made to prevent any further dissemination of these comments." | |
| The meeting was held in private and Mr Martins thanked the panel for its "appreciation of this sensitive situation". | |
| "The very last thing that I wish to see is a frenzy of speculation surrounding my actions overshadowing the really important issue, namely how and why Leon Briggs died whilst in police custody," he said. | |
| "I remain totally committed to ensuring that we all learn the truth and any necessary lessons learned." |