Former (Northumbria Police PSD) Superintendent David Borrie - report of pressurise an “extremely vulnerable” employee into performing sex acts on him, a tribunal has heard....

Martin McGartland

08 June 2019

Dear Independent Office for Police Conduct,

The telegraph newspaper published the following story concerning former (Northumbria Police Professional Standards) Superintendent David Borrie:

"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.”

The tribunal continues." ++ ENDS++
Link to story here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05...

Under the FOIA 2000 I would like you to disclose copies (copies of originals please) of all correspondence between IPCC and Northumbria Police, its Professional Standards Department (PSD) concerning above (now former) PSD Superintendent David Borrie case.

Please also disclose copy of the correspondence relating to; " However the IPCC insisted that he received a formal written warning.” Fyi; 'he' being Mr Borrie.

Yours faithfully,

Martin McGartland

Martin McGartland

04 July 2019

Dear Mr McCoy,

I note that you IOPC/IPCC are once again refusing to answer request which, as I understand it, relate to an overall (Northumbria Police case) which continues to be investigated independently by an external police force to this very day. (as below link - FOI reply of today shows). That being the reason why I made this request (as well as others) at this time. It is not known, as yet, what (or which officers) the external police force is investigating. That investigation has been running for at least 1 year to date.

All that I am doing - which is my right - is requesting information about a case/s that are both relevant. And, those in which their is a strong public interest. Furthermore, I am highlighting the serious corruption within the IOPC / IPCC (and police) when it concerns me and my cases over the years. The IOPC/IPCC (from top down) have covered up, protected and colluded with the police (and more) while dealing with me, my cases.
The IOPC/IPCC is corrupt to the core. You, IOPC/IPCC may not like what I I have to say .... But I have the right publish, talk about same. If the IOPC/IPCC have a problem with that they can seek independent legal advice. (But you, I, they know that they are not going to do that. Heads will roll - the IOPC/IPCC are corrupt - but not stupid ).

The IOPC/IPCC have neutralised evidence, failed to investigate complaints, botched and whitewashed many of my cases and complaints so that they could protect police and cover up serious corruption. I have, as IOPC/IPCC are aware, all of the evidence to back up and prove everything I have ever said regards same (including against the police)..

This is just one more example of IOPC/IPCC covering up information which relates to FOI, SAR requests that I have made. You refer to a newspaper report being 3 years old - however, and as above - an external force is continuing to investigate the overall NP case - see here: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/i... And here: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/i... - I would have thought you would have know (or at least checked) that before replying.

Also, your memory is very short - Mr McCoy - I wrote to the IOPC/IPCC back in May (less than two months ago) concerning the Nicolas Churton murder: Here fyi, MP Ian Lucas claims ‘systematic cover-up’ involving North Wales Police, probation service, CRC, IPCC and IOPC over Nicolas Churton murder - IOPC / IPCC on Life Support Martin McGartland request - Page link: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/m...

That case related to events (of of May 2019 ...) and those in which MP Ian Lucas made claims of a systematic cover-up’ involving North Wales Police, probation service, CRC, IPCC and IOPC over Nicolas Churton murder. News Paper story link here: http://www.wrexham.com/news/mp-claims-sy... [I have also added the text at foot of this email/note].

The IOPC/IPCC also refused to answer that request too.... and they claimed (as you have do here) that theat request was also 'vexatious'.... See here:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/5...

The IOPC/IPCC are cover up merchants. You / others within the IOPC/IPCC are copying and pasting the same 'vexatious' letter / text in each others replies. It -'vexatious' - is being used by IOPC/IPCC (and not just in my cases) to cover up and conceal corruption, failures, flawed decisions, whitewashes, lies, and also embarrassment. in my cases (as well as in others). And from the public. That would of course be a serious breach of the FOIA and DPA.

Yours sincerely,

Martin McGartland

IN Full - News Reports:

MP claims ‘systematic cover-up’ involving North Wales Police, probation service, CRC, IPCC and IOPC over Nicolas Churton murder

Published: Friday, Apr 12th, 2019

Wrexham’s MP has spoken in Parliament about ‘grave errors’ made before the brutal murder of a Wrexham resident – while heavily criticising subsequent attempts by the authorities to establish what went wrong.

Ian Lucas led an adjournment debate in the main Commons chamber yesterday on ‘police complaints, accountability and the case of Nicholas Churton’.

Mr Churton was murdered in his Wrexham home in March 2017 by a dangerous offender, Jordan Davidson, who was on licence from prison at the time. Davidson had been arrested and taken into custody four days before the murder for possession of a knife, only to be released rather than being sent back to prison. Mr Lucas read out an account of a second threat to life in Wrexham town centre when Davidson pulled a machete on a man trying to intervene on a robbery in the period after he had murdered Mr Churton.

Mr Lucas has spent two years trying to find out why Davidson was freed to murder Mr Churton, and commit a series of other serious offences, but says several key questions remain unanswered.

In yesterday’s speech he praised the ‘commendable bravery’ of the officers who arrested Davidson. However, he was heavily critical of North Wales Police, the probation service and the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) over their failure to give him answers in relation to the case.

Speaking in the Chamber, Mr Lucas said: “Davidson is responsible for this horrific crime and for other attacks for which he is now serving a 30-year prison sentence. However, the events leading to those crimes revealed grave errors by the police and by the probation services in Wrexham and North Wales.”

Mr Lucas added: “I have secured knowledge of the detail of those errors only with the assistance of Jez Hemming of the Daily Post newspaper in north Wales. For the bulk of this case, I have secured no co-operation whatever from North Wales police.

“Indeed, I now believe that I, along with the public, was misled deliberately about the facts of the case to conceal those errors, and that there has been a systematic cover-up involving North Wales police, the probation service, the community rehabilitation company, the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”

Davidson was known to Mr Churton and had approached him in the days before the murder.

An IOPC investigation into Mr Churton’s contact with the police was launched in the days following his death – yet Mr Lucas was not informed of this important development. It is IOPC protocol for local MPs to be told.

Mr Lucas contacted North Wales Police later that year after learning of Davidson’s arrest and release for possession of an offensive weapon, days before the murder. But the then Chief Constable, Mark Polin, said he could not comment because the IOPC was investigating ‘all contact’ the police had with Davidson prior to Mr Churton’s death. Mr Lucas says this was, in fact, not true as the IOPC was only investigating police contact with Mr Churton, not the contact with Davidson.

Following pressure from Mr Lucas, a second IOPC investigation was opened – this time focusing on police contact with Davidson – but it only began in April 2018, more than a year on from the crime. The first IOPC investigation has finished, resulting in misconduct cases for two officers, but the second inquiry is ongoing.

Mr Lucas this week wrote to North Wales Police & Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones to ask him to look into the statements made to him by Mr Polin, who has since left the force.

Mr Lucas posed several questions in the House of Commons yesterday to the Minister for Policing and the Fire Service (Mr Nick Hurd):
– Why did North Wales police and the IPCC fail to tell me of a police conduct inquiry involving a murder and additional serious assaults in the middle of my constituency?
– Secondly, who decided to exclude the police decision to release Davidson on bail after his arrest for possession of an offensive weapon from the terms of reference of the IPCC inquiry, and why was that done?
– Thirdly, why did the then chief constable of North Wales, Mark Polin, tell me that there was an inquiry into Davidson’s release when there was not?
– Fourthly, was the North Wales police and crime commissioner notified of the inquiry by the IPCC in 2017, and of its terms of reference? Is there an obligation to notify PCCs of such inquiries? If a notification was made in this case, when was it made?
-Fifthly, was the family of Nicholas Churton notified of the inquiry, and the fact of the release of Davidson four days before his murder?
– Sixthly, why did the probation service and the CRC fail to highlight the fact that the release of Davidson was not included in the IPCC inquiry? Should they have done so?

Mr Lucas added: “It is now over two years since Nicholas Churton was brutally murdered. We need an independent investigation into how this happened. I have no confidence in the various bodies and organisations that I have referred to because none of them and none of the systems worked to reveal the errors in this case, which had catastrophic consequences. What we need above all is some transparency ​and honesty from the organisations involved. The family of Nicholas Churton, with whom I have been working, deserve that honesty.”

The Minister replied, “I know the hon. Gentleman to be a man of common sense and experience in this place. When I hear him articulate his feeling that he has been personally misled and talk about a systematic cover-up, I know that he will not be using that language lightly. I take that seriously and congratulate him on his persistence and his campaign on this.”

“I heard clearly the hon. Gentleman’s frustration about his engagement with the police and the system and the degree to which he feels misled—a powerful word in this context. I understand that he has been in correspondence with and met senior members of North Wales police to discuss its organisational learning, its response to date and intended actions. If he feels that contact has not been substantive or that there are issues that continue to need to be addressed, he and I should discuss that. I can certainly help him to make that point directly to North Wales police’s leadership.”

Mr Lucas noted “It is fair to say that North Wales police now has a new chief constable and that this case relates to the previous regime, so to speak” with the Minister replying “…under new leadership, the engagement with the ​hon. Gentleman is more forthcoming, and I welcome that.”

After a lengthy reply (here) from the Minister Mr Lucas said, “My key concern is that Davidson’s release from custody was not made subject to IPCC investigation by North Wales police or by the IPCC, and no one outside the force knew of that fact. It was only when I highlighted it that the investigation commenced. My concern is that the systems are still not in place to make sure it cannot happen again.”

The Minister said: “I understand that message very clearly, and it will be heard by the IOPC. I undertake to make sure that the IOPC has absorbed the message. My understanding is that the first investigation looked at the police’s dealings and contact with Nicholas Churton and the second is looking specifically at their contact and dealings with Jordan Davidson, but the hon. Gentleman’s point is well made. Through the mechanism of this debate and the follow-up, I undertake to make sure that the message is clearly understood by the IOPC as it finalises its work for publication, hopefully this summer.”

Speaking outside the chamber, Mr Lucas said: “This case raises serious concerns about the criminal justice system and the safety of my constituents. It is why I have been so determined to find out what went wrong, yet I have been met with a great many obstacles which have been a cause of huge concern to me. The family of Mr Churton also deserve answers but, sadly, we are still waiting more than two years on from this terrible crime.”

Top picture: Ian Lucas MP speaking yesterday during the adjournment debate.

Link to story; http://www.wrexham.com/news/mp-claims-sy...

Martin McGartland

08 July 2019

Dear !Request Info,

I Did NOT /// nor am I requesting a review of this request. I was just replying to Mr McCoy and IOPC/IPCC regards some home truths and facts concerning the Lies, the Corruption, cover up, the protecting (and cover up for police) by corrupt IOPC/I{PCC in my cases.

Any review (due to the above) will result in the same IOPC/IPCC LIes, cover ups. They are covering up information to protect themselves, their staff and the police (regards above). THe IOPC/IPCC is corrupt to the core.... all I have had is corrupt IOPC/IPCC staff (a number of whom were r Ex police themselves) covering up for, protecting the police by Botching 'investigations' (whitewashes) and my cases.

I have closed this request (on grounds it has been Refused).

Yours sincerely,

Martin McGartland