Police chiefs face ‘Plebgate’ grilling over Mitchell meeting
Three police officers caught up in the Plebgate scandal will be grilled by MPs today about their meeting with Andrew Mitchell as part of the ongoing investigation.
Representatives of the Police Federation; Inspector Ken MacKaill, Detective Sergeant Stuart Hinton and Sergeant Chris Jones have been accused of trying to discredit Andrew Mitchell, former Tory chief whip, after their meeting last year.
Mr Mitchell met the three officers after he was accused of calling officers guarding Downing Street “plebs” as was leaving through a side gate on September 19 2012.
The Tory MP said he wanted “clear the air” in a meeting with Mr MacKaill, Det Sgt Hinton and Sgt Jones.
A transcript showed Mr Mitchell apologised for swearing at the police officers and denied using the word “plebs” but in comments after the meeting Mr MacKaill claimed the former Tory chief whip refused to provide an account of the incident.
Officers cleared
The officers were representing West Mercia, Warwickshire and West Midlands forces, an internal investigation saved them from misconduct proceedings.
West Mercia Police conducted an internal investigation into claims the three officers were trying to discredit Mr Mitchell but concluded there was no case to answer for misconduct or gross misconduct.
However, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has disputed the findings and claimed there were issues of “honesty and integrity” among the three.
The IPCC concluded they should have faced a misconduct panel.
They will give evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee before chief constables from all three forces; Andy Parker of Warwickshire Police, David Shaw of West Mercia Police and Chris Sims of West Midlands Police, all appear.
‘Apology owed’
Chief Inspector Jerry Reakes-Williams, who led the internal inquire is expected to give evidence along with Dame Anne Owers and Deborah Glass, the chairwoman and deputy chairwoman of the IPCC.
Prime Minister David Cameron has insisted Mr Mitchell was owed an apology by police and said the conduct of the officers was “not acceptable”.
The three officers earlier this week apologised for making a public statement after the meeting at Mr Mitchell’s Sutton Coldfield constituency office but did not retract the comments made.
Police trust
A poll this week found that one in four people are less likely to now trust the police, following the ‘Plebgate’ affair.
Shadow home secretary, David Davis, has now called for officers to wear cameras and microphones at all times to record contact with members of the public as part of a “root and branch” reform of police culture.