The forced retirement of Carmel Napier exclusively revealed by the Argus last week has triggered a debate on whether the power of PCCs should be curtailed. Now a Home Office committee led by MP Keith Vaz will investigate the matter. DAVID DEANS, SOPHIE BROWNSON and NATALIE CROCKETT report.

A GROUP of MPs will investigate the powers of elected police and crime commissioners in the wake of the forced retirement of Gwent’s top police officer.

Instructions given to former chief constable Carmel Napier by the area’s PCC Ian Johnston to retire or be removed has sparked much debate over whether England and Wales’ PCCs have too much power.

Now, Home Affairs Select Committee chairman Keith Vaz, has launched an inquiry which will look at the role and its effectiveness following the row.

He told a national newspaper Mrs Napier’s dismissal was a “symptom of the fundamental problems that appear to be experienced between some PCCs and their chief constables.

He said the committee warned about such issues a year before the elections last November and suggested an agreement be drawn up between police and crime commissioners and chief constables to ensure everyone knew their rights and responsibilities.

Wayne David, Caerphilly MP and shadow justice minister, says a Labour government would hold a review into the controversial posts which would see them scrapped or the law changed.

It comes after Mrs Napier said the government should look into whether the legislation on PCCs protects the independence of operational policing in England and Wales.

Last Tuesday the Argus exclusively reported that Mrs Napier had been forced out by the region’s PCC Ian Johnston. Mr Johnston defended his position, saying the relationship between him and Mrs Napier had irrevocably broken down, and that she did not support the role of the PCC.

The departure also came after a very public spat between the pair in the Argus over whether crime in Gwent was being properly recorded.

Our story caused a storm in the Welsh media and political scene, with calls from Gwent Labour MPs for Ian Johnston to be held to account.

Mr David said the problems in Gwent come from the “inherent weakness in the legislation” on the separation of commissioners from operational policing that had been pointed out by Labour as it passed the House of Commons.

“The legislation says that PCCs are not supposed to be involved in operational matters.

They are concerned with the budget and the strategic direction of policing,” he said.

However he claimed that leaked documents obtained by the Argus seemed to suggest Mr Johnston asked Mrs Napier to retire because he was not happy with operational matters.

“He’s demonstrating there that he is engaging with operational policing,” said Mr David.

Mr David said a Labour government elected in 2015 would “urgently review the role of PCCs” and consider whether to modify the legislation on PCCs or scrap the posts altogether.

The shadow justice minister added that there should be a mechanism for the recall of PCCs if they are found to have behaved in an inappropriate way, saying he was in favour of it for MPs.

Under legislation within the Police Reform and Social Responsibility (PRSA) Act 2011, PCCs have the power to appoint, suspend and remove chief constables.

Commissioners wanting to call upon a chief constable to retire or resign must give them a written explanation of the reasons as to why.

The police and crime panel for the area must be notified and told what those reasons are. The PCC must then consider any written representations from the chief inspector of constabularies and listen to the views of the PCP, which must be notified and told of the reasons, but ultimately the PCC has the final say.

In Lincolnshire the PCC defended his decision to suspend the force’s chief constable, who was reinstated after a judicial review.

The courts have had to resolve tension between Avon & Somerset PCC Sue Mountstevens and Colin Port, who left as chief constable after eight years.

Mr Port decided to retire after Mrs Mountstevens told him he would have to reapply for his job.

Christopher Salmon, the Tory PCC for Dyfed Powys, said the legislation is “very clear” on ensuring independence for the police.

“The chief constable leads the force on a day-to-day basis – he or she is the one who makes decisions about operational matters,” he said. “Commissioners must respect that independence.

They set priorities, budgets and employ the chief constable.

“Parliament created commissioners to ensure that elected individuals are clearly accountable for policing in their area.”

He said to do that commissioners “must be able to act”.

David Davies, Tory MP for Monmouth, said the law should protect the independence of operational policing, but he said it is right that the Home Affairs Select Committee in the commons should look into how the system is working.

Mr Davies added: “This is what devolution is all about.

We take powers away from central government and give them to other bodies.”

“I wasn’t hugely enthusiastic about PCCs, I wasn’t against it but it wouldn’t have been my priority. But we have them.”

He said Labour were “throwing their toys out” after they didn’t get their man into the post.

Paul Flynn, Labour MP for Newport West, said he agreed with Mrs Napier’s call for the government to review the legislation.

“The idea has been a monumental failure,” he said.

He said the move could make people less likely to want to be chief constables in the future.

“I believe it’s a non job. In order to assert themselves they do extreme things like dismissing chief constables.

“Carmel Napier had nothing but admiration. Her main sin is that she’d didn’t like PCCs. If she didn’t she reflects how the majority of people in the country feel about them and their jobs.

“Someone must speak for people like Carmel Napier.”

Nick Smith, MP for Blaenau Gwent, said it needed to be put on the table “what occurred here in Gwent” and said the force needed to be put on a “stronger even keel”.

Public voice support for chief constable

PEOPLE in Newport city centre expressed dismay with the decision by the PCC to force the chief constable to retire.

● Kathleen Jason, 79, retired of Marshfield, said: “ I think it is disgraceful. Mrs Napier has to put her side of the story across.”

● Debbie Jackson, 54, a shop manager in Newport for 11 years, said she thought PCCs have too much power.

She said: “I think it is wrong that Carmel Napier has been forced to retire from her job as chief constable.”

● Sandra Bruzon, 66, of Risca, a volunteer at a Newport shop, said she didn’t think the PCC should be allowed to have the power to force Mrs Napier to resign. She said: “I think the whole thing seems ridiculous.

We don’t know what his reasons were for forcing her to leave and he should have given reasons for doing it.”

● Kelly Jones, 47, a housewife, from Bristol Street in Newport’s Maindee area said she did not back the PCC over Mrs Napier.

● Christopher Welch, 47, a full time dad, said: “One time we used to have a say in what went on, but I don’t feel we do anymore.”

● Jan Bacon, 66, of Cross Keys, retired, said there should have been more of a discussion about Mrs Napier’s departure.

She said: “I am aware of Ian Johnston and voted for him because he was the only one that I had heard of and so I just went with it.”

● Warren Hill, 60, of Blaenavon and a security officer, simply asked: “Why did they get rid of her?”