A former chief constable who told a feminine officer she may contact herself as they sat in a automobile has been indefinitely barred for serving after being discovered responsible of gross misconduct.
Mike Veale, 57, was judged final month by a disciplinary panel to have made undesirable sexual remarks to colleagues throughout his time as head of Cleveland Police in 2018.
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, Steve Turner, has now backed the panel’s findings and stated Mr Veale would have been dismissed and may now be placed on the listing of officers banned from serving indefinitely.
Mr Veale resigned from the power in January 2019 after 10 months in cost.
Something wanting dismissal would ship a message to the general public and police that such conduct is just not taken critically throughout the police
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland Steve Turner
The ex-top officer, who led a controversial inquiry when he was chief of Wiltshire Police into former prime minister Ted Heath for alleged sexual offences, didn’t attend the 25-minute listening to on the police headquarters in Middlesbrough.
Mr Turner stated: “Something wanting dismissal would ship a message to the general public and police that such conduct is just not taken critically throughout the police.
“It very a lot is taken critically.”
The disciplinary listening to was told final month that Mr Veale was in a automobile with a feminine colleague, referred to as Witness B, in November 2018 when he learn out a complimentary e mail he had acquired from an area councillor.
He checked out her lap and stated, “Go on, you possibly can contact your self now”, the panel was told.
Mr Veale was additionally discovered to have inappropriately commented in entrance of others, whereas on a go to to Norfolk Police, that the identical feminine colleague and a male senior officer, referred to as Witness C, have been “bedfellows – metaphorically talking or in any other case” earlier than laughing.
I recognise that the investigation into Mr Veale’s conduct and the next proceedings have taken longer than anticipated, and longer than anybody would have wished, to come to a decision
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland Steve Turner
Mr Turner stated Mr Veale ought to have identified the power is a “work place the place rumours abound”.
He stated: “There’s a excessive threat, if a chief constable was seen to have interaction in such behaviour, he would set the tone for the remainder of the power.”
Disciplinary motion is designed to preserve public confidence, uphold policing requirements and defend the general public and was justified on this case, Mr Turner discovered.
He stated his determination was separate from a earlier discovering that Mr Veale “lied to senior colleagues”, prior to him becoming a member of Cleveland Police, about damaging his cell phone whereas enjoying golf.
I’ll proceed to work intently with the chief constable (Mark Webster) to guarantee requirements {of professional} behaviour are upheld and public confidence in Cleveland Police is maintained
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland Steve Turner
Mr Turner stated Mr Veale claimed his cellphone had been run over when he had really by chance damaged it by hitting it.
In an announcement after the listening to, Mr Turner stated: “I recognise that the investigation into Mr Veale’s conduct and the next proceedings have taken longer than anticipated, and longer than anybody would have wished, to come to a decision. I thank all concerned for his or her persistence and co-operation.
“I’ll proceed to work intently with the chief constable (Mark Webster) to guarantee requirements {of professional} behaviour are upheld and public confidence in Cleveland Police is maintained.”
After leaving Cleveland Police, Mr Veale was an adviser to the Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner however resigned from that function earlier this yr.
