A SENIOR UK police officer has called for a meeting with the Home Secretary in the wake of the dramatic forced retirement of Gwent Police's Carmel Napier.

Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), said he wants to meet Theresa May to ensure there are enough checks on the powers of police and crime commissioners (PCCs).

It comes after former chief constable Carmel Napier called for the government to review the legislation that allows PCCs to ask chiefs to retire or resign protects the independence of operational policing.

Earlier the week the Argus' exclusively revealed Gwent's PCC Ian Johnston told Mrs Napier to retire, or he would force her out.

Sir Hugh told the media that he and a delegation of senior chief constables hoped to meet Mrs May soon to discuss safeguards for their "operational independence".

While most PCCs and chief constables worked well together, clashes in Gwent and elsewhere could undermine confidence in policing, he told the newspaper.

"They must have the confidence that they can make a decision that might provide unpopular without running the risk that they could lose their job," he said.

An adviser to the Prime Minister on policing, Lord Wasserman, was also quoted as saying that Mr Johnston had shown "political leadership" in asking Mrs Napier to retire.

Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, has written to Mrs Napier and Mr Johnston asking for an explanation of what happened leading up to Mrs Napier's retirement.

He has asked for a response from the two by next Monday so the committee can decide whether to invite them to give evidence.