Cleveland
Police Authority misconduct probe nears completion
THE
misconduct part of the ongoing corruption investigation into Cleveland Police
Authority could be completed within two months.
The
team heading Operation Sacristy - the probe into CPA - say they hope a file
will have been considered by the Independent Police Complaints Commission
(IPCC) and the authority by the end of June.
Almost
5,000 documents have been gathered and more than 700 people have been named as
part of the investigation into alleged misconduct and criminality.
Keith
Bristow - the former Warwickshire Chief Constable and now director general of
the new National Crime Agency - has been leading Sacristy since last May.
It
was then that he was asked to conduct a criminal investigation into a number of
people with current or past associations with CPA.
The
external investigation was triggered following initial internal inquiries into
the manner in which some individuals within the authority may have conducted
some of its business.
Almost
a year on from Mr Bristow taking over, an update from CPA - seen by the Gazette
- has been issued to some councillors following a meeting between the officer
and authority members.
“The
investigation is being progressed as quickly and professionally as possible,”
the report states.
“There
are, however, matters relating to both misconduct allegations and criminal
conduct that still require a thorough investigation.
“The
investigations into many of the aspects of alleged misconduct by senior police
officers are virtually complete and it is intended that a report will be
submitted to IPCC on these matters within two months.
“It
will then be for the IPCC to consider the file and then send it to the police
authority (hopefully within two weeks) to determine the course of action
(within three weeks of receiving it).
“Based
on these estimates - and they are only estimates - it would mean the authority
will have considered the investigator’s report, in relation to any alleged
misconduct of senior officers only, and determined a course of action by the
end of June.”
No
indication was given as to the timescale of the criminal strand of the
investigation.
The
report also reveals Sacristy is being conducted by 27 members of staff from
North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Warwickshire. Twenty-three of the staff are
detectives.
Up
to the end of February, the inquiry had involved:
::
715 named individuals;
::
1,779 actions - such as interviews and visits;
::
2,325 exhibits;
::
4,963 documents - including 764 statements, 595 reports and 37 interviews.
The
update states the cost of Sacristy for the current financial year is £1.47m.
It
is predicted to hit £1.7m in 2012/13 - it remains “at current resource levels”.
“We
are still waiting for a formal response from the Home Office to the authority’s
application for a special grant, although indications are positive,” the update
adds.
The
report continues that, overall, the investigations deal with criminal offences,
police misconduct matters and staff discipline issues.
“The
matters under investigation are complex and extensive, some relate to matters
that occurred several years ago, some more recent,” it continues.
“Some
of those under investigation are very senior public figures and leaders,
occupying influential positions with significant responsibilities and powers.
“There
are very significant public interest issues involved.
“It
is only right that such individuals are held to account to act professionally
and in accordance with the law, the standards of professional behaviour and the
Nolan principles of Public Life (a framework of expected standards).” It adds
that the investigation’s leaders are “striving to minimise costs” and are aware
of expectations to complete it “as quickly and as professionally as possible”.
“It
is not viable or feasible, nor in the interests of justice to complete partial
inquiries,” says the update.
TEESSIDE'S
top two police officers are among those to have so far been arrested under
Operation Sacristy.
Cleveland’s
Chief Constable Sean Price was detained along with Deputy Chief Constable Derek
Bonnard and former force solicitor Caroline Llewellyn in August as part of the
investigation.
Mr
Price and Mr Bonnard have been suspended from their jobs ever since. Both have
consistently said they have done nothing wrong.
In
November, Councillor Dave McLuckie, the former police authority chairman , was
arrested. He too has denied any wrongdoing.
All
are on bail until next month.
In
a statement made a week after his arrest Mr Price said: “I wish to make it
clear I am entirely innocent of any offences and am confident that this will be
shown to be the case in due course.”
He
said he had been deeply saddened at the way he had been treated and had
answered every question during his time in custody.
Mr
Price made clear at that time that he was looking forward to returning to lead
“the best force in the country”.
Mr
Bonnard, also issued a statement soon after his arrest in which he said he was
innocent of all allegations. He voiced his belief he would be cleared in due
course and spoke about his pride at serving with Cleveland Police.
He
said he co-operated fully during his arrest and while held in custody for 30
hours.
Last
May, the launch of Sacristy led to Cllr Dave McLuckie stepping down as
Cleveland Police Authority’s chairman.
Cllr
McLuckie, who was arrested in November, has denied any wrongdoing. He was
suspended by the Labour Party and it resulted in him losing his Redcar and
Cleveland Council cabinet seat.