IAN Johnston is disdainful of MPs’ scrutiny and hasn't given concrete examples of why he got rid of Carmel Napier.

That's according to an influential group of MPs who have slammed the Gwent police and crime commissioner on the forced retirement affair, revealed by the Argus in June.

In a report published today the Home Affairs Select Committee said Mr Johnston was over-sensitive to criticism and had sidestepped a legal process to get Mrs Napier to leave.

Mr Johnston used Twitter to criticise the committee's proceedings as "sad" after he and Mrs Napier gave evidence earlier this month, saying member Chris Ruane had been "planted by a Gwent MP".

Committee chairman Keith Vaz said: "It is worrying that Police and Crime Commissioners seem able to side-step the statutory process for dismissing a chief constable."

He called for police and crime panels, which hold commissioners' to account, to "make more active use of their powers to scrutinise decisions such as this."

In his note to the May 23 meeting where the PCC asked Mrs Napier to retire or be asked to leave, Mr Johnston stated Mrs Napier was "deeply hostile" to the PCC concept among other criticisms.

But the report said reasons given by Mr Johnston for asking the chief constable to leave have been "unpersuasive", and were "unsubstantiated by any concrete examples".

Committee members said Mr Johnston's Twitter comments showed a "disdainful attitude towards scrutiny by Parliament, as well as an indication of a clear over-sensitivity to criticism".

They said this was "further evidence, if any were needed, that the checks and balances on police and crime commissioners are too weak."

The report said that Mrs Napier interpreted Mr Johnston's stated intention not to humiliate her as a veiled threat to do just that if she refused to go quietly.

The official "schedule eight" process for getting rid of a chief constable requires consultation with the police and crime panel.

But nobody, "not even the home secretary", is able to overrule a commissioner in the process which can also be sidestepped with the threat of a potentially embarrassing public scrutiny process, the report says.

Mr Johnston, who said he had welcomed the committee's scrutiny, said: "I would like to reiterate that the interests of the communities of Gwent have, and always will be, at the forefront of my decisions and that at all times I act within the relevant legislation."

Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly, said it begs the question whether the law needs to be changed, and "brings into question whether we should have PCCs in the first place."

Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith said Mr Johnston "clearly believes his elected role has placed him above scrutiny".

The committee is expected to return to the issue of PCCs in November.

No mention of ex-top cop in PCC’s report

THE scathing report from MPs came a day after Ian Johnston published his annual report outlining his activities since he came to office last year.

The report says that the latest accounts show a saving of £1.8 million for the year, and that since coming to office the PCC has worked hard to meet as many people as possible.

It makes no mention of the forced retirement of Mrs Napier, despite having a section on staffing.

He says he will conduct a review with the chief constable on communities affected by changing the use of Gwent police station, and will continue to challenge the force on how crime statistics are recorded.

The report says he has awarded £50,000 of funding to local groups to reduce and prevent crime.

Mr Johnston said: "I remain committed to delivering an efficient and cost-effective policing service for the people of Gwent and will continue to work hard to improve the levels of service provided"