NEWPORT MP Paul Flynn labelled Gwent police boss Ian Johnston "a vindictive bully" today.

During Prime Minister's Questions, the Newport West MP asked: "Was it the Prime Minister’s conception when he set up the office of police and crime commissioner that a fine chief constable such as the one in Gwent should have a career cut short by a vindictive bully who told her to resign or he would humiliate her?"

Earlier, the Newport MP claimed the Police and crime commissioner threatened to humiliate a former chief constable demonstrated a "menacing and bullying attitude’’, a Newport MP has said.

Newport West MP Paul Flynn today asked during, Welsh Questions, if PCCs were the Government's "stupidest policy’’ as he raised the case of former Gwent Police chief constable Carmel Napier, who stepped down in May after PCC Ian Johnston ordered her to retire.

Ms Napier told the Home Affairs Select Committee yesterday that Mr Johnston used "horrible words’’ when he called her into a meeting to present her with the ultimatum.

Mr Flynn, addressing Welsh Secretary David Jones during Wales Questions, said: "The evidence we had yesterday from the chief constable was that she was called in, and out of the blue the police commissioner said that he will dismiss her and humiliate her.

"I think this is an extraordinary menacing and bullying attitude. Is the police and crime commissioner the Government's stupidest policy?’’

Mr Jones replied: "For the first time democracy is introduced into the policing of this country, which must be desirable. I heard the evidence also and no doubt the Home Affairs Select Committee will be reporting in due course.’’

Earlier during the question session in the Commons, Labour MP Wayne David (Caerphilly) asked Mr Jones: "Do you share my concern that the former chief constable of Gwent said yesterday to a select committee in this House that she was bullied out of her job?’’ Mr Jones replied that he had the "highest possible regard’’ for Ms Napier but it was a matter for the PCC to make a decision.

He said: "I heard what the former chief constable said. I want to reiterate what I said in the last Welsh Grand Committee that I have the highest possible regard for Carmel Napier.

"Ultimately, however, it must be a matter for the police and crime commissioner to make that decision and of course he is accountable to Parliament through the Home Affairs Select Committee.’’ Labour's Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan asked the Welsh Secretary: "Do you think it's desirable that police and crime commissioners should in effect be able to sack police constables on a whim as has happened in Gwent?’’

Mr Jones answered: "Clearly the power to dismiss a chief constable is one of the powers given statutorily to that officer. However, when that is exercised the PCC must be extremely careful to ensure that the proper procedures are adopted and furthermore must understand he will accountable to Parliament.’’

PCCs, which replaced police authorities in 41 force areas across England and Wales, were handed the power to set force budgets and hire and fire chief constables.

Ms Napier announced she was retiring from her 30-year career in policing on June 7, and it later emerged she had been forced out by Mr Johnston.

Mr Johnston, a former chief superintendent in the Gwent force with more than 30 years of service, told the Home Affairs Select Committee yesterday that Ms Napier was "hostile’’ to the idea of PCCs and he did not expect her to accept his offer of resignation.

Mr Johnston, who ran as an independent in the Gwent election, which attracted a turnout of just 14%, told the committee he had become aware that Ms Napier was discouraging police staff from contacting him during his first week in office.

Mr Johnston denied that a "clash of personalities’’ was behind his decision.

Earlier in the year, the Home Affairs Select Committee published a report in which it warned that stronger scrutiny was required of elected police commissioners to prevent "maverick decision-making’’.