PCC to take training after complaint about conduct

A police and crime commissioner (PCC) has agreed to undergo training on his code of conduct, following a complaint.

Marc Jones, the PCC for Lincolnshire, accepted he should not have sent text messages disclosing details of a confidential recruitment process, according to a newly published report by the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel.

He also regretted using "strong language" in the texts to describe some members of the recruitment panel, the report added.

Jones told the BBC the report related to a matter "from some years ago" and the substantive allegations were "dismissed without fault on my part".

The monitoring officer to the Police and Crime Panel, Will Bell, was asked to consider an informal resolution to the complaint on 17 February last year.

A record of his decision has now been published.

Bell found the language used by Jones in his texts was "inconsistent" with the need to "treat others with dignity and respect", as set out in his code of conduct.

Sending the texts was also inconsistent with Jones's commitment to not disclose confidential information.

The matter related to the recruitment process for a new chief constable in 2020.

Bell recommended no action in relation to an allegation that Jones had been "less than honest with investigators" conducting an IOPC probe into that process.

He noted that Jones had provided "categoric assurances that he fully complied with all requests for information from the relevant investigators" and had "sought advice from specialist solicitors to advise him on such matters".

Bell also recommended no action in relation to a separate allegation that Jones had been "involved in a relationship with an employee of Lincolnshire Police who was then appointed to a senior position within the office for the PCC on a salary almost double that of the previous post holder".

The report said: "Jones was categoric that he was not in a relationship with his colleague at the time of their appointment or subsequently. As far as he was concerned the appointment was made on merit and in accordance with proper process."

Following publication of the report, Councillor Graham Marsh, vice chair of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel, said: "We are disappointed in the conduct of the PCC in relation to these complaints and understandably, this will knock residents' confidence in Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner."

However, in a statement to the BBC, Jones said he was "a bit baffled" by the publication of the report.

"It relates to a matter from some years ago and, as the report confirms, both substantive allegations were dismissed without fault on my part," he said.

"Furthermore, I offered to take up some voluntary training to ensure no future errors can happen regarding technical breaches of the code of conduct.

"The comments from a Conservative member of the panel seem to bear little resemblance to the facts set out in the report.

"As far as I'm concerned this matter was appropriately resolved some time ago."

Earlier this week, Jones announced he was leaving the Conservative Party and would serve as an Independent until the end of his term in 2028, when the role will be scrapped by the government.

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