Humberside Police ‘s former Chief Constable Paul Anderson was first made aware of allegations against him being looked into by the OPCC on the day he chose to retire.
Paul Anderson’s retirement was announced on June 25. He had been the force’s chief constable for just under a year. A day later, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) publicly announced allegations of potential misconduct had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and it had begun an independent investigation.
In the wake of a recent police and crime panel, where Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jonathan Evison indicated he accepted the Chief Constable’s retirement as it was cheaper than a suspension, the Local Democracy Reporting Service followed up with questions on the matter.
At the police and crime panel meeting pre-submitted questions by the panel on the investigation into the Chief Constable were answered by the PCC and a statement given to media, but no questions were permitted on the day. The LDRS subsequently contacted to confirm when Paul Anderson was informed the OPCC were looking into allegations against him, as well as ask two other questions.
An Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) spokesperson said Mr Anderson was informed on Monday, June 24, that the OPCC had received the allegations and was looking into them. He submitted his retirement that day, which was officially announced the next day.
On Wednesday, June 26, the investigation and its referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) was announced.
Media interviews were offered by Humberside Police with the chief constable in the week before his retirement was announced, on his first year in office and plans for the future. These were postponed on Saturday, June 22, as he was “called away urgently”.
The investigation into the former Chief Constable is “largely related to communication and behaviour towards colleagues”, the IOPC has previously stated.
Judi Heaton QPM has been appointed as temporary Chief Constable for up to six months.
Recruitment for a permanent Chief Constable of the force has already begun. It was heard at the police and crime panel earlier this month that the selection process will take place on August 21. A confirmation hearing is hoped for in September, at the latest.
The LDRS was also told the PCC is satisfied with the time taken from the OPCC being made aware of allegations to its referral of them to the IOPC, and that its process was as swift and thorough as possible. The OPCC first received the allegations on June 12. It was referred to the IOPC after looking into them on June 24.
The OPCC spokesperson was unable to confirm at this time if any internal review of how the OPCC handled the allegations has or will take place, and if that would be made public.
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