A lengthy hold-up to a gross misconduct inquiry which means a former chief constable is “not taken to task” will “no longer wash”, the Government has been told at Westminster.
Frustration was again vented in Parliament over the long-delayed investigation into Mike Veale, as a Home Office minister insisted the administration was powerless to act.
In cryptic remarks, Tory frontbencher Lord Sharpe of Epsom told peers there were reasons for the postponement, but he was unable to reveal what they were.
Mr Veale, who led a controversial inquiry into sex abuse claims against the late prime minister Sir Edward Heath when he was in charge of Wiltshire Police, is accused of breaching “standards of professional behaviour” during his time with Cleveland Police.
Mr Veale stepped down as the northern force’s chief constable in 2019.
Parliament heard the misconduct hearing against Mr Veale was yet to start, despite being announced in August 2021.
While proceedings must usually start within 100 days, the legally qualified chair in charge of the process may extend the period if “they consider it is in the interests of justice to do so”.
Responding to a question in Parliament, Lord Sharpe said the Government had been in correspondence with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, who had “sought clarification on the management and extension of misconduct hearings”.
Pressing the minister, Tory former cabinet minister John Gummer, who sits in the upper chamber as Lord Deben, said: “There is very considerable unhappiness about this whole story.
“I understand how difficult it is for him, but frankly it will no longer wash that a particular individual, who has behaved in way as far, as one can see, which is wholly unsatisfactory just is not taken to task.
“Would he please agree to look again at this and find an answer for those of us who have been pressing now for many years?”
Lord Sharpe said: “I completely accept his unhappiness and possibly share it myself as I have to answer this question on a regular basis.
“Unfortunately, the Government has no powers to intervene over the misconduct process.
“There are reasons why it has been held up and I cannot say them.”
Tory former MP Lord Cormack said: “Month after month, year after year, ministers stand at that despatch box and give wholly unsatisfactory answers. There is deep concern.”
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