Blunkett urged to reconsider Humberside chief suspension
Humberside Police Authority has urged the Home Secretary to reconsider his decision to request the suspension of its Chief Constable.
On Tuesday David Blunkett announced that he would be using his powers under the amendment of the Police Reform Act 2002 to “require Humberside Police Authority to suspend Mr Westwood as Chief Constable forthwith.”
The Bichard Inquiry into police vetting failures prior to the Soham murders identified “very serious failings” in Humberside Police.
David Blunkett commented that some of these failings: “The Chief Constable only became aware of when hearing evidence to the inquiry. Sir Michael finds the lack of awareness of the scale of these failings over such a long period of time to be ‘deeply shocking’.”
Mr Westwood though declared his intention to stay in his position, stating: “I owe it to the officers and staff of Humberside Police, to the public of Humberside and to the families of Holly and Jessica to complete this task.
“I have the support and confidence of my force, my police authority and the people of Humberside.”
This morning, Humberside Police Authority decided to back Mr Westwood by 12 votes to five.
In a short statement, the authority said a resolution had been passed: “That the Home Secretary be asked to reconsider his decision to require Humberside Police Authority to suspend the Chief Constable, Mr David Westwood”
Responding, David Blunkett said: “The decision announced in the House of Commons in my statement on Tuesday 22 June to require the Humberside Police Authority to suspend Chief Constable David Westwood pending their report back to me, was taken after considerable thought, advice, and discussion.
“Having gone through the detailed process and having weighed the facts very carefully I decided that the enormity of the evidence provided in Sir Michael’s report and in particular the issue of systemic and corporate responsibility, warranted the initiation of these powers.
“I have looked again at my decision in the light of the Police Authority’s request this morning that I reconsider. But in the absence of any new arguments, I have decided to maintain my decision and I now call upon the authority to comply with the law and suspend Mr Westwood. If they do not, I will be taking the necessary legal steps at the earliest opportunity at the beginning of next week to require them to do so.
