Police chief’s early exit is a big mistake (From York Press)
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Police chief’s early exit is a big mistake
11:21am Thursday 24th May 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter
THE North Yorkshire Police Authority have made a big mistake in refusing to extend the term of office of the departed chief constable.
Mr Maxwell was an experienced police officer who showed great leadership and turned the county into the best policed area in the country. He should have remained in office until his proper date of retirement.
The mistake made by Mr Maxwell was unfortunate, but it was not a sacking offence, and the tribunal who investigated the matter dealt with it fairly and it should have rested there.
Mr Maxwell admitted his error and the tribunal dealt with it with no recommendation that he should be dismissed from his post or required to resign.
The North Yorkshire Police Authority, however, refused to extend his term in office, resulting in approximately £250,000 in compensation having to be paid. In addition they also have to pay for his pension and of the salary for the new chief constable.
I would like to wish Mr Maxwell good health and a long pleasant retirement. I am sure that many others in York and district would like to do the same for the excellent work that the chief constable and his officers put in to make North York’s a safer place.
I would say to Mr Julian Smith MP, who has called for new legislation to abolish big compensation pay-outs, that any such legislation will apply equally to Members of Parliament.
Mr D Scorgie, Hawthorne Avenue, Haxby, York.
Comments(10)
mickrick
says...
1:32pm Thu 24 May 12
Jazzper
says...
3:58pm Thu 24 May 12
mickrick wrote:That's just what I was thinking !
And anyway he should not only have been sacked but prosecuted as well.
Pete the Brickie
says...
4:34pm Thu 24 May 12
The mistake made by Mr Maxwell was unfortunate, but it was not a sacking offence, and the tribunal who investigated the matter dealt with it fairly and it should have rested there.
Mr Maxwell admitted his error
Completely fair if it was a genuine mistake, but it wasn't he knew full well the risk he took in by passing the recruitment procedure and he knew the possible punishment for being caught. Hence why he chose to question the integrity of CAD and IPCC staff investigating him in an attempt to avoid the case against him being proved, this behaviour along with his last minute admission of guilt cost his force upwards of a quarter of a million pounds. I suspect it was that small matter which made his employers get rid of him at the first opportunity rather than the actual gross misconduct finding.
Most normal people consider this man got off lightly, gross misconduct in any other walk of life results in instant dismissal and some MP's were prosecuted and jailed for costing the country far less money and being more truthful about it.
Jezreel
says...
4:55pm Thu 24 May 12
The ongoing corruption case at the Met proves yet again that their is something very smelly in the Land of Plod.
In his retirement I would like to wish Mr Maxwell everything he deserves.
powerwatt
says...
6:38pm Thu 24 May 12
Pete the Brickie wrote:Not only that, but he never admitted to his part with his own relation while Briggs was being scrutinised. It wasn't until found out, then he only admitted Gross Misconduct immediately before the hearing. Not during while the thousands of pounds were spent during the investigation.
The mistake made by Mr Maxwell was unfortunate, but it was not a sacking offence, and the tribunal who investigated the matter dealt with it fairly and it should have rested there.
Mr Maxwell admitted his error
Completely fair if it was a genuine mistake, but it wasn't he knew full well the risk he took in by passing the recruitment procedure and he knew the possible punishment for being caught. Hence why he chose to question the integrity of CAD and IPCC staff investigating him in an attempt to avoid the case against him being proved, this behaviour along with his last minute admission of guilt cost his force upwards of a quarter of a million pounds. I suspect it was that small matter which made his employers get rid of him at the first opportunity rather than the actual gross misconduct finding.
Most normal people consider this man got off lightly, gross misconduct in any other walk of life results in instant dismissal and some MP's were prosecuted and jailed for costing the country far less money and being more truthful about it.
How about using some of his pay off to pay for the unnecessary investigation if he had been honest?
The worst thing is he was deemed to not have broken then code of conduct in relation to honesty and integrity.
Absolute sham!
mickrick
says...
10:15pm Thu 24 May 12
highhat
says...
8:36am Fri 25 May 12
My snouts tell me there was indeed a Doug Scorgie serving in the Leeds City Police and then West Yorks Met upon amalgamation.
The period Doug Scorgie served was an interesting and problematic time resulting in a home office inspection which then went on to a full blown enquiry.
Several Officers from that time went to prison.
Doug sounds old school to me and probably thinks Maxwell did no wrong.
The mind set of the early 70s and 80s.
The justice system is still sorting out the mess from that time.
I would think that Doug could tell some (Life on mars) tales if he wanted to.
ak7274
says...
5:00pm Fri 25 May 12
Jezreel
says...
5:23pm Fri 25 May 12
Police recorded 8,500 corruption allegations in three years. However the public watchdog says only 13 officers have been prosecuted and found guilty following the thousands of claims. It looks like there are a lot of D. Scrogies out there looking into police corruption
mickrick says...
1:31pm Thu 24 May 12