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| Manchester police chief Peter Fahy should be suspended, say local MPs | Manchester police chief Peter Fahy should be suspended, say local MPs |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Calls intensified for the head of Greater Manchester police to be suspended following his criminal investigation by the police watchdog over bungled surveillance of a suspected paedophile. | Calls intensified for the head of Greater Manchester police to be suspended following his criminal investigation by the police watchdog over bungled surveillance of a suspected paedophile. |
| Two local MPs have called for the suspension of Sir Peter Fahy, with one saying on Wednesday that he was undermining public confidence in the police by remaining in his position. | Two local MPs have called for the suspension of Sir Peter Fahy, with one saying on Wednesday that he was undermining public confidence in the police by remaining in his position. |
| Two further MPs said they were surprised he was still in office after the Independent Police Complaints Commission announcement that it had served Fahy with a criminal and gross misconduct notice in relation to his alleged support for an allegedly poorly handled investigation into a suspected sex offender. | Two further MPs said they were surprised he was still in office after the Independent Police Complaints Commission announcement that it had served Fahy with a criminal and gross misconduct notice in relation to his alleged support for an allegedly poorly handled investigation into a suspected sex offender. |
| Fahy is one of four serving chief constables, out of 43 in England and Wales, who are facing inquiries into claims of crimes or misconduct. There is a decision pending on a fifth. | Fahy is one of four serving chief constables, out of 43 in England and Wales, who are facing inquiries into claims of crimes or misconduct. There is a decision pending on a fifth. |
| Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), denied that there was a crisis in police leadership and insisted the cases showed that complaints were investigated effectively. | Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), denied that there was a crisis in police leadership and insisted the cases showed that complaints were investigated effectively. |
| Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Broughton, in north Manchester, said: "If the man can clear his name then so be it. But he shouldn't be in a position where he is looking after the safety and security of the people of Greater Manchester with this hanging over his head because it's bound to affect his judgment." | Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Broughton, in north Manchester, said: "If the man can clear his name then so be it. But he shouldn't be in a position where he is looking after the safety and security of the people of Greater Manchester with this hanging over his head because it's bound to affect his judgment." |
| He added: "MPs are suspended from their political parties; accountants accused of embezzling would be suspended pending investigations. All professionals get suspended in this sort of situation. He is in charge of disciplining police officers, he's in charge of deciding which cases are sent to the Crown Prosecution Service. And there must be question marks over his judgment in this situation. The public can't have confidence in somebody who is under investigation until he is either cleared or not cleared." | He added: "MPs are suspended from their political parties; accountants accused of embezzling would be suspended pending investigations. All professionals get suspended in this sort of situation. He is in charge of disciplining police officers, he's in charge of deciding which cases are sent to the Crown Prosecution Service. And there must be question marks over his judgment in this situation. The public can't have confidence in somebody who is under investigation until he is either cleared or not cleared." |
| Stringer said he would be writing to Tony Lloyd, the police and crime commissioner for Greater Manchester, who on Tuesday said he had taken legal advice before deciding there were no grounds to suspend Fahy. | Stringer said he would be writing to Tony Lloyd, the police and crime commissioner for Greater Manchester, who on Tuesday said he had taken legal advice before deciding there were no grounds to suspend Fahy. |
| "I will write to Tony Lloyd – it's his decision, not Fahy's, although I think if Fahy had got any sense he would suspend himself," said Stringer. | "I will write to Tony Lloyd – it's his decision, not Fahy's, although I think if Fahy had got any sense he would suspend himself," said Stringer. |
| Julie Hilling, Labour MP for Bolton West, admitted she was not aware of the full allegations facing Fahy, but said: "It's surprising that he hasn't been put on gardening leave in the circumstances." | Julie Hilling, Labour MP for Bolton West, admitted she was not aware of the full allegations facing Fahy, but said: "It's surprising that he hasn't been put on gardening leave in the circumstances." |
| Jonathan Reynolds, Labour MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, said he too was "surprised" that the IPCC criminal probe hadn't triggered Fahy's automatic suspension. | Jonathan Reynolds, Labour MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, said he too was "surprised" that the IPCC criminal probe hadn't triggered Fahy's automatic suspension. |
| He said: "I am surprised that the standard procedure in this situation isn't for the CC to be given an administrative suspension, but I have full confidence in the police and crime commissioner to handle this properly. I would also say that, whenever I have had to personally deal with Peter Fahy on a number of high-profile issues, I have always found him very diligent and effective and I do hold him in high regard." | |
| Simon Danczuk, Labour MP for Rochdale and a prominent critic of the handling of sex cases by Greater Manchester police, told the Manchester Evening News: "If any frontline officer were facing serious allegations like this they would be suspended immediately, and it should not be different for the chief constable." | Simon Danczuk, Labour MP for Rochdale and a prominent critic of the handling of sex cases by Greater Manchester police, told the Manchester Evening News: "If any frontline officer were facing serious allegations like this they would be suspended immediately, and it should not be different for the chief constable." |
| But John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Withington, south Manchester, supported Lloyd, saying: "Sir Peter Fahy has a job to do and he should get on and do it while the investigation is ongoing. Clearly there are circumstances where someone's position becomes untenable but I don't think that's the case here. If people in senior positions are suspended every time an allegation is made they would never do the job they are paid to do." | But John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Withington, south Manchester, supported Lloyd, saying: "Sir Peter Fahy has a job to do and he should get on and do it while the investigation is ongoing. Clearly there are circumstances where someone's position becomes untenable but I don't think that's the case here. If people in senior positions are suspended every time an allegation is made they would never do the job they are paid to do." |
| Jim Dobbin, Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton, said: "I have respect for Tony Lloyd's view on this matter. I have had regard for Sir Peter Fahy's dealings with my office in the past. I shall therefore reserve my opinion until things become clearer." | Jim Dobbin, Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton, said: "I have respect for Tony Lloyd's view on this matter. I have had regard for Sir Peter Fahy's dealings with my office in the past. I shall therefore reserve my opinion until things become clearer." |
| On Wednesday a protest took place outside Greater Manchester police headquarters in Central Park, north Manchester, calling for Fahy's resignation. Friends and family of Anthony Grainger, an unarmed man who was shot dead by a Manchester police marksman in 2012, were present at the gathering. | On Wednesday a protest took place outside Greater Manchester police headquarters in Central Park, north Manchester, calling for Fahy's resignation. Friends and family of Anthony Grainger, an unarmed man who was shot dead by a Manchester police marksman in 2012, were present at the gathering. |
| This year the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to bring charges against the officer who killed Grainger, instead choosing to charge Fahy under health and safety legislation, because poor police planning had exposed Grainger and other suspects to unnecessary danger. Wesley Ahmed, a cousin of Grainger's, said Fahy, as well as the firearms officer responsible, should both face criminal charges. | This year the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to bring charges against the officer who killed Grainger, instead choosing to charge Fahy under health and safety legislation, because poor police planning had exposed Grainger and other suspects to unnecessary danger. Wesley Ahmed, a cousin of Grainger's, said Fahy, as well as the firearms officer responsible, should both face criminal charges. |
| The IPCC is also understood to be looking into how a detective let a vulnerable 14-year-old boy walk into a flat, which was being watched by undercover officers, that was occupied by a suspected paedophile. The four chief constables under investigation include Avon and Somerset's chief officer, Nick Gargan, who has been interviewed under criminal caution over claims he leaked internal emails containing personal data. | The IPCC is also understood to be looking into how a detective let a vulnerable 14-year-old boy walk into a flat, which was being watched by undercover officers, that was occupied by a suspected paedophile. The four chief constables under investigation include Avon and Somerset's chief officer, Nick Gargan, who has been interviewed under criminal caution over claims he leaked internal emails containing personal data. |
| The allegations against Gargan were unearthed during an investigation by the IPCC into claims that he abused his position by making "inappropriate advances" to younger female members of staff. He was suspended in May as the inquiry continued. | The allegations against Gargan were unearthed during an investigation by the IPCC into claims that he abused his position by making "inappropriate advances" to younger female members of staff. He was suspended in May as the inquiry continued. |
| Another two chief officers – Suzette Davenport of Gloucestershire constabulary, and Adrian Lee from Northamptonshire police – are under investigation as part of an inquiry into witness handling in the investigation of the "execution-style" murder of a 20-year-old man. | Another two chief officers – Suzette Davenport of Gloucestershire constabulary, and Adrian Lee from Northamptonshire police – are under investigation as part of an inquiry into witness handling in the investigation of the "execution-style" murder of a 20-year-old man. |
| The pair are among several officers who were part of a Staffordshire police unit that dealt with protected witnesses following the murder of Kevin Nunes. Five men were jailed in 2008 for the murder of Nunes, who was found dead in a country lane in Pattingham, Staffordshire, in 2002. They had their convictions quashed last year amid concerns about the running of the squad. | The pair are among several officers who were part of a Staffordshire police unit that dealt with protected witnesses following the murder of Kevin Nunes. Five men were jailed in 2008 for the murder of Nunes, who was found dead in a country lane in Pattingham, Staffordshire, in 2002. They had their convictions quashed last year amid concerns about the running of the squad. |
| In a fifth case, the IPCC has yet to make a decision on the West Yorkshire chief constable, Mark Gilmore, who was suspended in June amid an inquiry by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. | In a fifth case, the IPCC has yet to make a decision on the West Yorkshire chief constable, Mark Gilmore, who was suspended in June amid an inquiry by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. |
| Orde said the five cases are "very different" and showed that the complaints system was effective. "In a transparent and open system it is right that any officer, regardless of rank, is subject to a full and proper investigation if a complaint is made. We welcome that process; it's vital in maintaining public confidence. Chief constables are required to make difficult, complex, decisions daily, often under extreme pressure. Making these decisions involves balancing risk and acting on the information available with the intention of protecting the public." | Orde said the five cases are "very different" and showed that the complaints system was effective. "In a transparent and open system it is right that any officer, regardless of rank, is subject to a full and proper investigation if a complaint is made. We welcome that process; it's vital in maintaining public confidence. Chief constables are required to make difficult, complex, decisions daily, often under extreme pressure. Making these decisions involves balancing risk and acting on the information available with the intention of protecting the public." |
| • This article was amended on 14 August 2014 to include a quote from Jonathan Reynolds MP that had been lost in the editing process. |