THE Welsh Secretary yesterday backed the right of the police and crime commissioner to fire a chief constable.

David Jones told MPs in the House of Commons the commissioner was "the official best placed to make that judgment" and that he would be held to account for his actions.

His comments came in the wake of the furore nationally after the Argus exclusively revealed the Gwent commissioner Ian Johnston told former chief constable Carmel Napier to retire or be removed.

Mr Jones, asked at Welsh Grand Committee by Newport East MP Jessica Morden for comment on the move by Mr Johnston, he said he always had "high regard" for Mrs Napier and she had done "an amazing job in Gwent".

"However it has to be the case that the PCC is the official best placed to make that judgment. He knows he is democratically elected and will have to account for his actions."

He told MPs they would have to wait for the "investigation launched by the Home Affairs Select Committee" to find out if Mr Johnston acted appropriately.

The committee's chairman Keith Vaz MP has written to Mr Joohnston over the issue.

Mr Johnston yesterday told his followers on Twitter that he has agreed with the new temporary chief constable Jeff Farrar that their relationship would be based on a "no surprises" approach.

Meanwhile, Gwent Police confirmed it is set to advertise for a new chief constable but spokeswoman yesterday couldn't give a timescale for the process.

Mr Johnston's decision was backed by senior Tory Newport councillor David Fouweather, who supported Mr Johnston's campaign.

Cllr Fouweather said: "This is a job you don't just walk away from unless there are good reasons. The former chief constable needs to tell us why she didn't contest the dismissal. I think Ian made the right decision."

Mohammad Asghar, Tory AM for South Wales East, told the Argus he was "100 per cent behind Ian".

Paul Murphy, Labour MP for Torfaen, said: "I'm sorry it had to come to this. At the end of the day it's people in Gwent that matter, not personalities."

Gwent MPs are set to meet with the PCC in parliament on June 18.