PCC at private hearing after 'disappointing' leak about complaint

LEICESTERSHIRE’S police and crime commissioner (PCC) has faced a complaint relating to allegations of misconduct in office at a private meeting.

- By CHRISTOPHER HARPER

This was despite challenges to make the meeting public.

It was held yesterday, as part of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police Crime Panel’s complaints subcommittee, with PCC Rupert Matthews in attendance.

The meeting began with the chairman of the committee, Councillor Les Phillimore, calling the leaking of “confidential papers” relating to the allegations against the PCC “disappointing”.

According to the BBC, the leaked report said Mr Matthews asked a police officer “to organise for him to have a photo taken with a horse for his next election leaflet, referencing a photograph of Russian President Vladimir Putin posing shirtless on horseback”.

The officer was serving with Leicestershire Police at the time of the alleged request.

Coun Phillimore said: “We appear to be in an extremely disappointing position where confidential papers relating to today’s meeting have been disclosed to the media outlets in advance of today’s meeting, which undermines the individual's privacy and integrity of the informal resolution process.”