“Enough is enough”: Says Lord Willy Bach on the record of his successor
Labour peer Willy Bach, former Police and Crime Commissioner, examines the record of his successor ahead of the elections this Thursday, 2 May 2024
In May 2021, Lord Willy Bach stepped down as Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, vowing to refrain from criticising his replacement regardless of their political affiliation.
He believed in civil political discourse, focusing on ideas and values rather than resorting to personal attacks. However, his successor's performance at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has unfortunately forced him to abandon this pledge:
Speaking to the Great Central Gazette Lord Bach expresses, Concerns Surround Leicestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner
Lord Bach now says: "It came to his attention within days of his arrival that there were reports of challenges in his interactions with staff.
This included the OPCC team, who were known for their positive community work, as well as the Chief Constable and other senior leadership. While he prefers to be directly involved in situations before forming an opinion, it's true that leadership transitions can be a time of disruption.
Perhaps there's a period of adjustment needed?
It's possible that with time, things will settle down.
Unfortunately, my initial optimism proved unfounded. Over time, reports of internal conflict and strained relationships increased. A consistent pattern of challenges emerged.
The new Commissioner's leadership approach had a negative impact on the police force and the diverse communities served by the OPCC.
This resulted in the departure of the OPCC's experienced Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive, both respected figures within the local policing community. Several other key staff members, including the Chief Finance Officer, also left shortly after. This period of instability continued. Notably, the Commissioner appointed eight Chief Executive Officers within a three-year period.
The Commissioner's role is to provide effective oversight and promote good governance within the police force. This level of staff turnover suggests significant challenges in achieving these objectives.
Determining the full financial impact of these events has been challenging.
Attempts to clarify costs through Freedom of Information requests and Police and Crime Panel meetings have not yielded complete answers.
However, a review of the OPCC accounts reveals significant severance payments made to departing staff, ranging from £300,000 to £430,000.
Notably, this includes compensation awarded to members of the disbanded OPCC Ethics Committee.
The presence of a former Chief Constable with a history of misconduct has raised concerns.
This individual, considered a close colleague of the Commissioner, arrived at the OPCC on the first day without prior announcement or vetting procedures.
Notably, he was under investigation for serious allegations of misconduct during his previous leadership role with Cleveland Police.
These allegations were later confirmed by a Police Tribunal.
The appointment of a former Chief Constable facing misconduct allegations raised concerns among Leicestershire Police officers.
Despite calls for his removal, the Commissioner appointed him as CEO in December 2022.
However, legal requirements mandate confirmation hearings by the Panel for senior staff appointments to ensure transparency.
Notably, the Commissioner did not follow this procedure.
In February 2023, the Chair of the Panel announced the departure of the Commissioner's seventh CEO, who had only been in the role for 47 days.
The Chair declined to comment further.
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 outlines the duties and responsibilities of elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs).
These include serving as a public voice for police accountability and overseeing all aspects of policing. Given the period of frequent leadership changes within the OPCC, the Commissioner's ability to fulfil these broader public duties remains unclear.
The situation surrounding the Police and Crime Commissioner's office remains a topic of public discussion. According to news reports, the Commissioner's comments regarding the US Supreme Court's decision on Roe v. Wade in summer 2022 were a source of contention within Leicestershire and Rutland. The decision overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling, which had guaranteed access to abortion nationwide."
Lord Bach also told the Great Central Gazzette, 'Police numbers down'
https://www.greatcentralgazette.org/enough-is-enough-willy-bach-on-the-record-of-his-successor/
"In the final analysis, we should look back to his first budget in 2022 for a truly objective judgement of my successor’s performance.
Despite public calls for more police on the streets of Leicestershire, he opted instead to cancel fully costed plans to recruit 100 new officers. Unsurprisingly, when his term ended, there were fewer police than in 2010.
In conclusion, it is for these reasons that, in my view, all reasonable people of all political persuasions should say, “Enough is enough”, and on Thursday, 2 May, they should vote for Rory Palmer, who offers experience, common sense and dare I say a good deal more rationality when it comes to managing the complex challenges of 21st Century policing.
From my private conversations, I am convinced that many influential Conservatives in Leicestershire are thinking this way already."
