Cleveland’s police and crime commissioner says disciplinary proceedings involving ex-chief constable Mike Veale are “in train” and has expressed irritation about being told to speed up the process.
An exasperated Steve Turner was asked again about progress with a gross misconduct probe into Mr Veale’s behaviour, which arose from complaints about inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour towards staff.
Mr Turner had announced in August 2021 that an independent panel chaired by an appointed lawyer was to be convened to determine any action to be taken.
But a date for any hearing is yet to be set with legal hold-ups being blamed.
Circumstances surrounding Mr Veale have been the subject of repeated debates in the House of Lords.
Earlier this week answering questions from peers, Home Office Minister Lord Andrew Sharpe said he would look to encourage a speeding up of proceedings.
Mr Veale, 57, who previously said it was not appropriate to comment on the misconduct matters against him, recently quit as interim chief executive of the office of the police and crime commissioner in Leicestershire and Rutland less than two months into the post.
Local MPs Liz Kendall and Jon Ashworth subsequently said there were serious questions as to why he was appointed as CEO in the first place.
At a meeting of Cleveland’s Police and Crime Panel, PCC Mr Turner was asked again by panel member,Councillor Norma Stephenson if there was any further update on Mr Veale.
Mr Turner said: “No, apart from the fact I was accused in the House of Lords of spouting gobbledegook, having tried to previously answer a question on this as best as I could.
“Someone in the Lords also said I should just hurry up and I have asked him for some clarity on how he believes I should be hurrying up, given the legal complexity.
“I can’t say anymore, I am sorry.”
Cllr Stephenson said she feared matters would “run out of time”.
Mr Turner said: “No, I will tell you it is in train.”
Independent Paul McGrath said there was an argument that residents’ lack of confidence in the Cleveland force started because of the long running Operation Lancet “saga” in the 90s and noughties, which aimed to root out corruption in the force and “went on for years and years and years and years”.
He said: “This is one of the issues that these inquiries and investigations go on for so long and keep getting regurgitated.”
Mr Turner said: “Lancet is probably the only thing not on my desk.
“Mr Veale isn’t even the longest running issue my office is having to deal with.
“If it was in my hands…but it’s not.”
Mr Veale led a controversial inquiry into sexual allegations against the late prime minister Sir Edward Heath while earlier in charge of Wiltshire Police.
He later departed for the top job at Cleveland Police, but only lasted ten months, handing in his resignation in 2019.
Speaking in the Lords, Lord Alistair Lexden, for the Conservatives, said the disciplinary delay was “deeply disturbing” and an “extraordinary state of affairs”.
