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IPCC: officers should face disciplinary hearings over Plebgate meeting IPCC: officers should face disciplinary hearings over Plebgate meeting
(about 7 hours later)
Two Police Federation officials who were accused by MPs of giving misleading evidence about the Plebgate affair should face disciplinary hearings for gross misconduct, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has decided.Two Police Federation officials who were accused by MPs of giving misleading evidence about the Plebgate affair should face disciplinary hearings for gross misconduct, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has decided.
Inspector Ken Mackaill, of West Mercia police, and DS Stuart Hinton, of Warwickshire police, were accused of misrepresenting their meeting with the former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell days after the Plebgate affair erupted in September 2012.Inspector Ken Mackaill, of West Mercia police, and DS Stuart Hinton, of Warwickshire police, were accused of misrepresenting their meeting with the former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell days after the Plebgate affair erupted in September 2012.
After the meeting in Mitchell’s Sutton Coldfield constituency office, Mackaill wrongly told the media that the Tory MP would not provide an account of the incident. Hinton had to apologise to MPs after after he initially denied referring to the home secretary, Theresa May, as “this woman that the Conservative party have”.After the meeting in Mitchell’s Sutton Coldfield constituency office, Mackaill wrongly told the media that the Tory MP would not provide an account of the incident. Hinton had to apologise to MPs after after he initially denied referring to the home secretary, Theresa May, as “this woman that the Conservative party have”.
The meeting took place just days after police refused to let the cabinet minister and his bicycle through the main gates of Downing Street. Mitchell, who resigned over the row, has always denied calling officers guarding Downing Street “fucking plebs”.The meeting took place just days after police refused to let the cabinet minister and his bicycle through the main gates of Downing Street. Mitchell, who resigned over the row, has always denied calling officers guarding Downing Street “fucking plebs”.
The officers’ account of the meeting was contradicted by a transcript, which shows that Mitchell insisted he did not call police officers plebs, but he accepted that he did swear at them. The transcript records Mitchell saying: “I did say under my breath but audibly, in frustration: ‘I thought you lot were supposed to fucking help us’ and it is for that I apologise. I am grateful to that officer for accepting my apology and I should never have said it and I will never do it again.”The officers’ account of the meeting was contradicted by a transcript, which shows that Mitchell insisted he did not call police officers plebs, but he accepted that he did swear at them. The transcript records Mitchell saying: “I did say under my breath but audibly, in frustration: ‘I thought you lot were supposed to fucking help us’ and it is for that I apologise. I am grateful to that officer for accepting my apology and I should never have said it and I will never do it again.”
An investigation by the IPCC into Mackaill, the most senior officer at the meeting, found that he has a case to answer for gross misconduct and will face a disciplinary hearing.An investigation by the IPCC into Mackaill, the most senior officer at the meeting, found that he has a case to answer for gross misconduct and will face a disciplinary hearing.
IPCC investigators found that Hinton should also face a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct. It is understood that Warwickshire police dispute this verdict and could ignore the IPCC’s recommendation. However, the police watchdog could exercise its power to direct that a disciplinary hearing be held.IPCC investigators found that Hinton should also face a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct. It is understood that Warwickshire police dispute this verdict and could ignore the IPCC’s recommendation. However, the police watchdog could exercise its power to direct that a disciplinary hearing be held.
The IPCC commissioner in charge of the investigation has decided that a third Police Federation official, Sergeant Chris Jones of West Midlands police, will face no action. Jones denied misleading MPs about his disciplinary record when giving evidence before the home affairs select committee on 23 October 2013.The IPCC commissioner in charge of the investigation has decided that a third Police Federation official, Sergeant Chris Jones of West Midlands police, will face no action. Jones denied misleading MPs about his disciplinary record when giving evidence before the home affairs select committee on 23 October 2013.
An IPCC spokesman said: “The IPCC has completed its independent investigation into the conduct of three Police Federation representatives following their meeting with Andrew Mitchell MP at his Sutton Coldfield constituency office in October 2012.“An investigation report was sent to the chief constables of West Mercia, Warwickshire and West Midlands police in May 2015. The forces responded, setting out what action they considered appropriate to take in response to the report. Following consideration of the appropriateness of these responses, the IPCC has made a formal recommendation to one of the forces as to what action the IPCC considers they should take.“We intend to make the outcomes public when final decisions have been made in relation to all of the officers.” An IPCC spokesman said: “The IPCC has completed its independent investigation into the conduct of three Police Federation representatives following their meeting with Andrew Mitchell MP at his Sutton Coldfield constituency office in October 2012.
“An investigation report was sent to the chief constables of West Mercia, Warwickshire and West Midlands police in May 2015. The forces responded, setting out what action they considered appropriate to take in response to the report. Following consideration of the appropriateness of these responses, the IPCC has made a formal recommendation to one of the forces as to what action the IPCC considers they should take.
“We intend to make the outcomes public when final decisions have been made in relation to all of the officers.”
Anthony Bangham, deputy chief constable for West Mercia police, said: “The Independent Police Complaints Commission confirmed today the outcome of their review following our determination of Inspector Ken Mackaill’s conduct as a result of the meeting with Andrew Mitchell in 2012.“As a result, we are putting in place formal proceedings to consider whether or not Inspector Mackaill’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct.”
The IPCC’s disciplinary findings are embarrassing for West Mercia police, whose internal investigation concluded in October 2013 that the officers had no case to answer for misconduct or gross misconduct.The IPCC’s disciplinary findings are embarrassing for West Mercia police, whose internal investigation concluded in October 2013 that the officers had no case to answer for misconduct or gross misconduct.
The police watchdog said at the time that it disagreed with the decision. The force’s chief constable, David Shaw, offered an unreserved apology to Mitchell and told him that the handling of the affair had been “clumsy”. Shaw later admitted he had considered resigning over the saga.The police watchdog said at the time that it disagreed with the decision. The force’s chief constable, David Shaw, offered an unreserved apology to Mitchell and told him that the handling of the affair had been “clumsy”. Shaw later admitted he had considered resigning over the saga.
Karen Manners, deputy chief constable for Warwickshire police, said: ”We confirm that we received the Independent Police Complaint Commission’s decision today regarding our internal review of our officer’s conduct during and after the meeting with Andrew Mitchell in 2012, which he undertook in his capacity as a Police Federation representative. We are currently considering the decision.”Karen Manners, deputy chief constable for Warwickshire police, said: ”We confirm that we received the Independent Police Complaint Commission’s decision today regarding our internal review of our officer’s conduct during and after the meeting with Andrew Mitchell in 2012, which he undertook in his capacity as a Police Federation representative. We are currently considering the decision.”
A spokesman for the Police Federation said it could not comment while the process was ongoing.A spokesman for the Police Federation said it could not comment while the process was ongoing.