Police panel chairman who quit was ‘attempting to protect democracy’

As previously reported, Evan Morris resigned from the post saying he left because new commissioner Dan Price (Lab) refused to directly answer pre-submitted questions by panel members during a public meeting in July.

The role of the panel is to hold the commissioner to account through questioning and scrutiny.

Former commissioners John Dwyer (Con) and David Keane (Lab) answered the panel’s questions themselves at the public meetings during their terms in office.

Mr Price had provided written responses from Cheshire Police in July.

PCC Dan Price (Image: PCC office) The questions included issues such as police vetting procedures and whether the Duke of Westminster had been asked to contribute to policing costs for his wedding.

Today (Friday) a former member of the panel said she had driven 43 miles to this morning’s meeting in Macclesfield because of her concern about ‘the democratic importance of this panel and the trust placed in it by members of the public like herself’.

Lynn Riley (Image: Cheshire West & Chester Council) Lynn Riley, a former Conservative councillor on Cheshire West and Chester, told the panel today Mr Morris was ‘a-political’.

Mrs Riley said: “Those of you who know him will undoubtedly know that his recent actions will have been motivated purely by the principle of attempting to protect and uphold local democracy while holding an elected commissioner to account.

“This is something that he has done commendably, without fear or favour, for almost seven years, and with three previously serving commissioners.”

She continued: “At a time when the public perception of the police feels quite fragile, I believe we must all do all that we can to reinforce and promote public confidence in all aspects of policing.

“This panel is unique, as a statutory body that holds a publicly elected official to account on important issues relating to the safety and security of Cheshire's residents and their communities.

“The questions that were asked by members of this panel [in July] and sanctioned by the then-chairman, would appear to have been consistent with the panels of the past, and would seem to ordinary observers, to be quite appropriate.

“A public airing of these questions may have been uncomfortable for some, but that is ultimately what this panel is here to do – to hold truth to power.

“I believe that we can all be rightly concerned if interested parties ever attempt to manipulate where elected members of this panel can raise the necessary scrutiny that their communities require.”

Mr Morris, who was a co-opted, independent member of the panel, did attempt to withdraw his resignation but that was refused by Cheshire East Council, which acts as secretariat.

Janet Witkowski, interim monitoring officer at Cheshire East, told the panel Mr Morris had resigned in the correct manner, that it was appropriate to accept that as an immediate resignation and there was no other option.

She added she wasn’t made aware that he had made any attempt to withdraw his resignation.

Mr Price did not comment about the chairman’s resignation other than to send him his best wishes.

Cheshire East councillor Judy Snowball (Lab) was elected as the new chairperson of the panel.