West Mids Deputy PCC To Appeal After Being Guilty Of Serious Misconduct

11 May 2016, 15:45

A union say they will appeal a decision to find the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands guilty of serious misconduct.

Yvonne Mosquito was suspended after going to visit the family of murdered Birmingham teenager Kenichi Philips without telling police.

The panel heard that damaged relationships with the family - but Unite say they "deplore" the way it's been handled.

An investigation has found her guilty of serious misconduct after she didn't make the force aware of a visit she was making to the family of murdered teenager Kenichi Philips back in March.

Unite regional officer Brian Rickers said: “We deplore the way that the hearing was held yesterday in Yvonne Mosquito’s absence and we can confirm that she will be appealing the decision.
 
“We are also appalled that the outcome of a confidential process has been made public.
 
“Unite did explain last week that Yvonne had asked for alternative dates as Caren Evans, the Unite regional officer representing her and who has detailed knowledge of this case, is on holiday abroad this week.
 
“It was Yvonne’s right under section 10 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 to have the union representative of her choice to accompany her to a disciplinary meeting.
 
“Unite continues to strongly refute the allegations made regarding Yvonne Mosquito, which was the focus of yesterday’s hearing.”

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said:

"An independent Disciplinary Panel met yesterday and heard all the evidence, including a substantial statement from Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Yvonne Mosquito.

"I have accepted the findings of the independent Disciplinary Panel.

"The Panel found that the Deputy Commissioner did not make the Force or the Office aware of the visit before or after it was made. The work of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner must not interfere with the operational independence of policing. The panel found that the actions of the Deputy Commissioner clearly interfered with operational policing.

"The Panel found that, based on evidence submitted by both Kenichi Phillips' family and the Force, the visit caused ongoing upset and distress to the family and, at the time, damaged the relationship between the family and West Midlands Police in the middle of a complex and sensitive murder investigation.   

"The family confirmed that they were made to feel that the Deputy Commissioner was in their home in an official capacity as she left her Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner business card with them, and sought to raise a range of issues that were not pastoral or spiritual."

"The family also confirmed that, despite being requested by the Deputy Commissioner to do so, they did not pray with her.

"On the basis of the Panel's findings, I have issued the Deputy Commissioner with a final written warning and asked her to apologise, in writing, both to the Force and the family.  She has so far not done so.

"I am sorry that a member of my staff, the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, made the already complex job of the officers investigating this awful crime more difficult.

"More importantly still, I regret that the Deputy Commissioner broke the agreement that had been reached between the family and the Family Liaison Officers on how contact with the police would be conducted. I am thankful to the family for  explaining how the visit made a difficult time much worse, caused them additional pain and grief, and was disrespectful.

"Again, I offer my deepest condolences for the tragic loss they have suffered."