Sir Peter Fahy to investigate suspended Lincolnshire chief constable Neil Rhodes

“Further to my last comment I came across this blog from Paul West who is starting to answer some of the questions I had on PCC accountability and the role of scrutiny by the Police and Crime Panel which this news channel reported as totally mystified.

http://tinyurl.com/b8lyaxk

Good plug for the local press. My feeling is the national press will get involved once the facts start emerging. From what Paul says it is not looking good for Alan Hardwick!”

“Bolshie,

I agree with you. I think it would really help to inform the public debate if thisislincolnshire ran an article explaining the scrutiny role of the Police and Crime Panel and the issue of public accountability of PCCs.

Reg Shore, who sits on the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel, said: "I was not told about this and it is a real surprise."

http://tinyurl.com/a5wls25”

“I wonder if he'll be told what to investigate him for?”

“So he may be a Sir but what right does he have to investigate another colleague of the same rank especially when Mr rhodes has been investigated by another police body?”

“I've just had my Council Tax Bill through for the year and it reads "Police Commissioner - £147.84."

I honestly don't know what The PCC is doing or is supposed to do and what I get from my money? Is it possible to claim a refund?”

“I have no faith in Alan Hardwick whatsoever but see nothing that leads me to believe Sir Peter is anyone's Patsy. Hopefully he can draw this matter to a swift close.

The PCC is held to account by the Police and Crime Panel that sits under Lincolnshire County Council arrangements. Notable so far is their silence since the initial exclamation of surprise at the beginning of the issue. The PCP info actually resides on the East Lindsey Council website, its Chairman is Councillor Ray Wooton so if anyone feels they ought to express their concerns about the PCC over this matter I suppose emailing him would be a good place to start. Looking at the last meeting minutes (7 Feb) there were no questions raised by the public for the panel to consider and reply to. The next meeting is 6 Jun 13 and given the traffic on this site over the last few weeks on the PCCs budget plan, voluntary policing, and this matter it'd be a real shame if they weren't given a mountain of questions from the public to give them something meaningful to do!!”

“Although we do not know why Neil Rhodes has been suspended it does not look good for our PCC Alan Hardwick. Once the IPCC decided Rhodes's actions 'did not amount to serious corruption or misconduct' and they declined to investigate, Hardwick was left looking vulnerable. It seems his powers have gone to his head and he has come across as another overpaid, megalomaniac petty official. In addition he has lost the support of the Lincolnshire police rank and file and Lincoln's MP Karl McCartney. Surely his days must be numbered.”

“An interesting choice, the only Chief Constable to defend cuts to police budgets.”