PCC apology on expenses 'mistakes'

Police and Crime Commissioner Richard Rhodes has apologised for failing to check the costs before hiring a chauffeur-driven Mercedes
20 April 2013

Under-fire Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Richard Rhodes has apologised for "mistakes" but gave a robust defence of his actions over his expenses row.

Mr Rhodes apologised for failing to check the near £700 cost before hiring a chauffeur-driven Mercedes to go to two evening engagements. He made a second apology for not publishing his expense online as he should have done.

But Mr Rhodes, the Conservative PCC candidate elected last November, was adamant he would not comment on Cumbria Police searching one property and arresting three people, two of them civilian workers for the force, after the cost of the car hire was leaked to the local press. All three are on police bail.

Invoices for the hire car had been photocopied at police HQ and mailed to the Carlisle News and Star newspaper but the arrests have been widely criticised for being heavy-handed and not in the public interest.

Mr Rhodes's office raised concerns with the force after the car hire cost was published in a story in the paper. The police then began their investigation. Mr Rhodes would not say who first raised the concerns within his office, but said the decision to inform police was "done with my knowledge".

During a sometimes heated 35-minute press conference in Penrith, Mr Rhodes refused to comment on claims the police over-reacted in arresting the three alleged whistle-blowers.

He said he backed the force policy of supporting whistle-blowers if it is in the public interest. The £65,000-a-year PCC, a former headmaster and army officer, said: "We are talking about breach of procedure here."

Asked whether the police actions were appropriate or proportionate, Mr Rhodes replied: "You must ask the chief constable." He said it would be inappropriate to talk about the police investigation because that might be seen as trying to exert influence.

Pressed again Mr Rhodes said he would not comment on the police actions, "because if I do, tomorrow morning's papers - 'Police chief slams chief constable for over-reacting'".

MPs in Cumbria have asked Home Secretary Theresa May to intervene and heavily criticised the police for their actions. Mr Rhodes said: "I fully understand some members of Parliament have seen fit to raise these issues. I understand where they are coming from. I'm not saying it's got anything to do with elections taking place in two weeks time."

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