Will CC Winton Keenen be disclosing report / finding regards New probe into claims [Northumbria] 'police covered up' sex scandal bust-up as Line of Duty cops quiz ex-chiefs...

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.

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Northumbria Police should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Martin McGartland

Martin McGartland

08 June 2019

Dear Northumbria Police,

Staffordshire Police (SP) replied this afternoon to my FOI concerning their independent investigation case reported in press as; 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: Link here (also see full text below); https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ne...

I asked SP when will their investigation be completed. They replied as follows
"The first phase is due to be concluded on 20 th June 2019".

It would appear that either the investigation is being extended by SP or a new investigation is starting.

Under the FOIA I would like to know;

1. Has SP extended their / the investigation into Northumbria Police and or any of its officers / former officers. If so, please explain reason for same?

2. Has SP began a new (second phase?) of their investigation into Northumbria Police / its officers / former officers. If so, what is the reason for same?

3. What is the reason, please give explanation to taxpayer, for ; a, the investigation being dealt with in different phases? b, the delay in this investigation?

4. Will Winton Keenen be making the SP findings, the report of the investigation public. If not, why not?

Yours faithfully,

Martin McGartland

Martin McGartland (Account suspended) left an annotation ()

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

By Jeremy Armstrong
20:13, 18 AUG 2018 UPDATED 18:15, 19 AUG 2018

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.”

Link here to story, click on link ; https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ne...

Martin McGartland (Account suspended) left an annotation ()

Telegraph - Martin Evans, crime correspondent
6 MAY 2016 • 2:07PM

"Third sex scandal engulfs Northumbria Police

third senior officer with a scandal hit police force abused his position to pressurise an “extremely vulnerable” employee into performing sex acts on him, a tribunal has heard.

Former Superintendent David Borrie, 57, allegedly took advantage of the woman, who was 20-years his junior, when she was having personal problems.

But when his Chief Constable, Mike Craik – who was embroiled in his own sex scandal - found out, he decided to have a “quiet word” with the officer, rather than take further action, allowing him to keep his pension.

It took an internal investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to rule that Mr Borrie, who worked in Northumbria Police’s department of professional standards, should receive an official warning.

Criminal proceedings were also considered but Mr Borrie eventually retired from the force without any further action, it was claimed.

Details of the third scandal emerged during a tribunal brought by Northumbria Police’s former head of legal services, Denise Aubrey, who claims the force was riddled with sex scandals.

Earlier the hearing heard claims that Mr Craik was punched by one of his Chief Superintendents, Jim Peacock, after he discovered he was having an affair with his wife, Carolyn, who was an assistant chief constable with the force.

In another scandal Mr Craik allegedly tried to axe one of his assistant chief constables, Greg Vant, after discovering he was having an affair with his secretary, Juliet Bains.

Ms Aubrey claims she was fired for allegedly disclosing confidential details of sexual affairs amongst high ranking officers, an accusation she denies.

In her evidence to the hearing in North Shields, North Tyneside, said said: “Superintendent Borrie, a high ranking officer in the professional standards department (PSD,) pursued a (junior civilian staff member.)

“He was 44, she was (in her twenties) and she was extremely vulnerable.

“The disclosed files show that he groped her in the office. On another occasion, he took her for a drink in the afternoon at a pub and then pressurised her into giving him oral sex.”

She explained that sometime later the woman became concerned that her boyfriend might have had a history of domestic violence and asked Mr Borrie to look into it for her.

She said: “He used the fact that he had this information to get her into his car and again pressurised her into giving him oral sex.

“Eventually she told her female colleagues about what had happened and there was an external investigation because of the seriousness of the allegations.

“Borrie was not dismissed, whilst it was felt that a criminal charge would not succeed, he had clearly breached police standards.

“Instead, it was decided to move him out of PSD but to allow him to complete his service so that he could get his pension.

“Mr Craik decided to have a ‘quiet word’ with him and told him not to bother applying for promotion.

“However the IPCC insisted that he received a formal written warning.”

Who’s who | Northumbria Police tribunal

Mike Craik
Former Chief Constable of Northumbria Police
Retired in 2010. Married to Sharon but accused of having an affair with his Assistant Chief Constable Carolyn Peacock. Was allegedly attacked by her husband, Chief Superintendent Jim Peacock, at a barbecue at his home.

Carolyn Peacock
Assistant Chief Constable of Northumbria Police
Retired in 2007 and is now a non-executive director with the North East ambulance service. Married to fellow officer Chief Superintendent Jim Peacock but was accused of having an affair with her boss, Chief Constable Mike Craik.

Jim Peacock
Chief Superintendent with Northumbria Police
Married to fellow officer Carolyn. Allegedly attacked Chief Constable Craik after discovering he was having an affair with his wife. Was accused of punching him while at a barbecue at his home, sparking a response by armed officers who raced to the scene. The incident was allegedly later hushed up.

Greg Vant
Assistant Chief Constable
Retired in 2013. Married to wife Gillian for 25-years when he had an affair with the Chief Constable’s secretary Juliet Bains. Was placed on secondment after his boss learned of the relationship. Later left his wife and is understood to be living with Mrs Bains.

Juliet Bains
Secretary to Chief Constable Mike Craik
Left her husband, Alan, for a police officer before starting a relationship with Assistant Chief Constable Greg Vant. Initially denied the affair. Was moved from her job to a role in Human Resources when the relationship was confirmed.

Sue Sim
Former Chief Constable of Northumbria Police
Retired in 2015 Accused senior male colleagues at Northumbria Police of sexism and said she was treated differently because she was a woman.

Ms Aubrey has also made claims against lower ranking officers, who she says were not suspended for much more serious misdemeanors than the ones she was accused of.

In her evidence she says: “At the time of my suspension Detective Constable Calvert and Detective Sergeant Johnson were facing serious allegations involving serious misconduct.

“The allegations included DC Calvert having an inappropriate relationship with a female suspect on bail and whose charges were later dropped, numerous failures involving the seizure and handling of firearms, failing to investigate arson and fraud, misleading other officers about the investigations and disclosing police information to criminals.

“Despite these and more serious allegations, which took many months to investigate, they were never suspended pending their disciplinary hearing. They were just moved and continued to have unfettered access to all police information systems.

“In contrast, I was suspended for what I am supposed to have said when I was mentally ill.”

Link to story here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05...

Martin McGartland (Account suspended) left an annotation ()

The below link, according to Staffordxshire Police, is their redacted copy of the Terms of Reference (ToR) relating to the review / investigation in to Northumbria Police --- claims of sex scandal bust-up ....

I'm not convinced that this is the complete ToR (looks some what incomplete to me; https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/5...