Process to remove a chief constable is ‘very complicated’, says one former police and crime commissionerpublished at 12:34 GMT
Sarah Julian
BBC Radio WM
As we’ve been reporting, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood should later announce the sacking of West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford. Yesterday, a minister said the government would read the findings of an independent report – currently with Mahmood – before making a judgement on “how to go forward”.
The power to sack Guildford lies with West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster.
Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) have statutory powers to suspend or dismiss a chief constable – although detailed procedures must be followed.
West Midlands’ PCC Simon Foster is expected to speak on the matter later, after Mahmood delivers a statement to the Commons.
One former PCC says the process to remove a chief constable is “very complicated”. Speaking to BBC Radio WM, former Essex PCC Nick Alston says: “Every time it’s been tried it’s been very tricky, and it’ll be
very protracted if that’s what Simon decides he should do.”
He also suggests Foster could have better communicated the “tough questions” he should have been asking about police decisions relating to the Maccabi Tel Aviv match at Aston Villa.
“I think there’s more he could have done, both to make clear
to all the people in the West Midlands what he was doing to challenge the chief constable.
“And if he did support him, to get out there publicly and
say: ‘I’ve got confidence in the chief,'” he says.
