Northumbria Police policy (and on order of Chief Constable) that damaging and or embarrassing information relating to Chief Officers be deleted from their computer systems - Martin McGartland

Martin McGartland made this Freedom of Information request to Northumbria Police This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was refused by Northumbria Police.

Martin McGartland

26 September 2018

Dear Winton Keenen,

Regards press / news of: "New probe into claims 'police covered up' sex scandal bust-up as Line of Duty cops quiz ex-chiefs . Claims were made against ex-Northumbria Police chief Mike Craik and his Assistant Chief Constable Carolyn Peacock at an employment tribunal two years ago' (in full below with page link)

-- Under the FOIA I would like you to disclose copy of the Terms of Reference (ToR)relating to this matter, investigation given the strong public interest in it, And also as the investigation is being funded by the public / taxpayer.

-- I would also like to know if you, Northumbria Police, your PSD have made Staffordshire Police aware that Northumbria Police has had a policy in the past (and on order of Chief Constable) that damaging and or embarrassing information relating to Chief Officers be removed / deleted from Northumbria Police computer systems? As is what happened in the case reported in the Sunday Times back in January this year ' Greg Vant has denied any wrongdoing and says the decision to delete the details of his son’s arrest was undertaken by a colleague;
see page like (full text below) https://www.nme.com/news/music/police-ac... And here; https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/burgl...
'
You will recall the case, the complaint that I wrote to you about directly but you covered up and failed to refer it to the IPCC (as required to). The matter was only dealt with (a year later) after I contacted the IPCC and they called in the case.

The IPCC investigator (Alan Carey - a former senior cop at North Yorkshire Police) confirmed above policy to me. And that it had been ordered by the Chief Constable at the time. I have the evidence which I would share with Staffordshire Police . The IPCC/IOPC continues to cover up and suppress their "independent" Investigation report into this case. see my FOI request for copy here: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/i...

I trust that you will be disclosing Staffordshire Police findings in full and in public?

Yours faithfully,

Martin McGartland

New probe into claims 'police covered up' sex scandal bust-up as Line of Duty cops quiz ex-chiefs

Claims were made against ex-Northumbria Police chief Mike Craik and his Assistant Chief Constable Carolyn Peacock at an employment tribunal two years ago

Anti-corruption cops are probing an alleged cover-up of a “sex scandal” involving a former chief constable.

Lurid claims about ex-Northumbria Police chief Mike Craik and his Assistant Chief Constable Carolyn Peacock were made at an employment tribunal two years ago.

Mr Craik, now 63, was alleged to be “shagging” Mrs Peacock, now 63, whose husband Chief Supt Jim Peacock allegedly punched him at a barbecue in June 2007.

Mr Peacock, also 63, is alleged to have gone to Mr Craik’s home to confront him after claims of his wife’s alleged infidelity emerged.

Mr Craik’s wife Sharon allegedly hit a panic alarm at the house in Bamburgh, Northumberland, which meant armed cops were called to it.

But the employment tribunal into the sacking of the force’s legal chief Denise Aubrey heard that details of the alleged showdown were removed from police logs, with officers ordered not to discuss it.

Now Northumbria Crime Commissioner Vera Baird has enlisted Staffordshire Police to carry out a review into the claims.

It is being led by Det Chief Insp Phil Duffy, head of Staffordshire’s anti-corruption unit, who has ­visited the North East to talk to ­former senior officers in the case.

Ms Aubrey, 54, said: “The timing of this investigation is something I do not understand, given the delay. But I am willing to assist.”

The tribunal upheld her sacking for breaching confidentiality over allegations surrounding Mr Craik.

Northumbria Police’s legal bill for the tribunal was £645,000, including the cost of advice to Mr Craik and other ex-senior officers.

Inspector Paul Gilroy, who was in charge of armed response vehicles, provided a statement to the tribunal in which he said that officers had been deployed at the Craiks’ home in Bamburgh.

“This followed the activation of the personal attack alarm,” he said.

“Before terminating duty I viewed a computer-generated log for the incident to find all the text subject of it had been deleted.

“After speaking to officers dispatched to the incident, it became apparent why the log had been deleted. The incident apparently involved an altercation between the Chief and Mr Peacock.”

Mr Craik retired in 2010. Asked if he had an affair with Mrs Peacock, he said: “Absolutely not. There was ­never any evidence other than unpleasant rumour and they are still rumours which are untrue.”

He called the allegations deeply distressing for his wife Sharon.

She said in 2016: “Mike first dealt with this nine years ago but it has come around again. It is nonsense. We did not have a party and the Peacocks have never been to my house.”

The Peacocks, of Ponteland, deny all claims of an affair and a dispute at a barbecue. Mrs Peacock retired in 2007.

Ms Baird and Northumbria Police declined to comment.

Staffordshire Police said:” We have been commissioned to undertake an independent review surrounding allegations in 2007 involving senior officers at Northumbria Police.

"No further comments will be made surrounding this matter.”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ne...

Further Info:

Police accused of covering up Vant singer’s arrest

Frontman Matthew Vant was questioned on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage in 2009

Police have been accused of covering up the arrest of Vant frontman Matthew Vant, the son of a senior officer.

London fourpiece Vant released their debut album ‘Dumb Blood’ last February but have since announced they are on an “indefinite hiatus”.

According to a Sunday Times report, Matthew Vant was questioned on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage following a house party in November 2009, when he was a student in Sunderland.

It was alleged that the shop below the flat, Cartridge World, was trashed during the party, with several computers stolen and damages estimated at £30,000. A record collection also went missing.

The matter was resolved through the community resolution scheme and the shop owner was paid £1,000. The settlement meant that the case would not result in a criminal record.

Details of the incident were deleted from the internal police database and a whistleblower alleges that the arrest has been “hushed up” to prevent leaks to the media.

A source told the Times: “It seems it is one rule for the public and another for friends of Northumbria police.”

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) received a complaint about the incident in 2016 but a review found that the singer’s father, Greg Vant, a former assistant chief constable of Northumbria Police, had no case to answer for.

Greg Vant has denied any wrongdoing and says the decision to delete the details of his son’s arrest was undertaken by a colleague.

Northumbria Police have said there has been no evidence found of any misconduct.

https://www.nme.com/news/music/police-ac...

Sunday Times link: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/burgl...

Yours faithfully,

Martin McGartland