Blunkett wins legal battle over police chief suspension
The High Court has ruled that David Blunkett has the right to order the suspension of the Humberside Chief Constable.
Mr Blunkett took the case to the High Court for judicial review after Humberside Police Authority decided not to request the suspension of its chief constable.
He said: “I am very pleased that the Court has established that our interpretation of the law was absolutely correct and that Humberside
Police Authority should have abided by my requirement for suspension from the beginning.
“I now want a proper and full response from Humberside Police Authority on the very serious and substantial issues raised in the
Bichard Report which should have begun ten days ago.”
The Bichard Inquiry into police vetting failures prior to the Soham murders identified “very serious failings” in Humberside Police.
David Blunkett then announced that he would be using his powers under the amendment of the Police Reform Act 2002 to “require Humberside Police Authority to suspend Mr Westwood as chief constable forthwith.”
However, the Humberside Police Authority decided to back Mr Westwood and asked the Home Secretary to reconsider his request.
This morning, the Police Authority decided by a majority of 15-2 that they would adjourn any further deliberation on the suspension of chief constable David Westwood pending the outcome of today’s court hearing.
In a show of support for Mr Westwood, Humberside Police Authority also revealed they had discussed the Chief Constable’s performance and concluded by 14-3 that it was no necessary to call on him to retire or resign, and said they saw his leadership as the best way to improve policing in Humberside.
Authority chairman Colin Inglis said: “We’re satisfied that the best way in which the Police Authority will continue to secure the maintenance of an efficient and effective police force for Humberside is through having David Westwood as its chief constable.”
It is not yet clear whether there will be any appeal against the ruling.
