Blunkett wins court battle
A 10-day battle to win the suspension of chief constable David Westwood tonight ended in triumph for Home Secretary David Blunkett.
A High Court judge slapped down Humberside Police Authority, which had launched a mutiny against a direct order from Mr Blunkett.
Mr Justice Stanley Burnton instructed the authority to suspend the police chief "forthwith" at the end of a short hearing in London, adding that it was "in default of its statutory duty".
The judge also refused the authority leave to appeal.
Mr Westwood's solicitor confirmed his client had been suspended with immediate effect.
The decision came after the Home Secretary's lawyer told the court the police authority was "simply flouting the law".
In a statement issued within minutes of the ruling, Mr Blunkett said: "I am very pleased that the court has established that our interpretation of the law was absolutely correct and that Humberside Police Authority should have abided by my requirement for suspension from the beginning.
"I now want a proper and full response from Humberside Police Authority on the very serious and substantial issues raised in the Bichard Report which should have begun 10 days ago."
Speaking outside court, Mr Westwood's solicitor Stephen Parkinson said: "Today the court has made an order declaring that the Humberside Police Authority is under a duty to suspend Mr Westwood.
"In the circumstances the authority has no option but to comply.
"Mr Westwood is grateful for the expression of confidence in him this morning by the representatives of the local community, the Humberside Police Authority, but nevertheless as a result of the Home Secretary's action he is suspended with immediate effect."
Mr Blunkett first issued his demand after the Humberside force and the Chief Constable were criticised last week in Sir Michael Bichard's Soham report.
His inquiry uncovered a string of failures which allowed Soham childkiller Ian Huntley to get a job as a school caretaker despite having a string of sex allegations recorded against him when he lived in Humberside.
Huntley went on to murder 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in August 2002.
