Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there are any legal mechanisms to compel the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland to begin the gross misconduct hearing against Mike Veale, former Chief Constable for Cleveland which, when it was announced on 2 August 2021, was described as beginning “shortly”.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government takes the accountability of the police very seriously and has delivered a number of reforms to strengthen the police disciplinary system. This included additional independence through the introduction of independent Legally Qualified Chairs (LQCs) in 2016. The Government has also recently announced an internal review in the process of police officer dismissals, which it expects to look at the existing model and composition of panels, including the impact of the role of LQCs.
But whilst arrangements concerning the establishment of a misconduct hearing are a matter for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), the management of the hearing itself is the responsibility of the independent LQCs. LQCs must commence a hearing within 100 days of an officer being provided a notice referring them to proceedings, but may extend this period where an LQC considers it is in the interests of justice to do so. Decisions made within a hearing are done so independently of PCCs as well as Government.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government who is the legally qualified chair in charge of the misconduct hearing that is to be convened for Mike Veale, former Chief Constable of Cleveland Police.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Arrangements concerning the misconduct hearing for Mike Veale, former Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, are a matter for the Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cleveland.