Propel prospective PCC candidate

Propel Police Commissioner Candidate Fires Warning on Politicisation

Propel’s South Wales Police Police and Crime Commissioner candidate has issued a warning to Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan to stay out of party politics. Dr John also raised concerns about miscarriages of justice and the lack of adequate policing in communities.

Dr Gail John, who is a member of the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) and a of Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) wrote to the Chief Constable Vaughan stating that she,

” Would have great difficulty in working with someone who has become embroiled in party politics.”

Dr John highlighted the force’s targeting of Propel Leader Neil McEvoy and challenged the Chief Constable.

In a letter to the Chief Constable, the Propel Prospective PCC said,

” Why has the South Wales Police solely targeted Propel Leader Neil McEvoy? No other politician has been targeted in such a way. Informing the public about upcoming elections is essential work; we are able to receive information about what topping to have on our pizzas, yet you are seeking to prevent the public from knowing about how they are governed…what are you going to do about the impression that your force is acting in a party political way?”

Dr Gail John is also calling for fully independent testing of the DNA linked to the Clydach murders and wants to see an investigation into past miscarriages of justice, so that lessons can be learned.

Dr John also questioned the amount of time that police had sat on DNA evidence from the Clydach murders saying,

” It is known that Mr Morris’ DNA was not found at the murder scene at 9 Kelvin Road, Clydach (according to official appeal documents) and he has now served 20 years in prison. Since when has it been possible to test the DNA found at the crime scene? Will you agree to tests being carried out completely independently, with oversight from the defence legal team?

Furthermore, the South Wales Police has the worst record of miscarriages of justice in Britain over the past fifty years, will you appoint an independent investigator/outside police force investigate past failings in order to learn lessons?

Dr John is also critical at the lack of resource for community policing, whilst members of the public are being harassed whilst out exercising.

Dr John finished the letter by promising to hold the Chief Constable to account if elected stating,

“Those who know me well, know that I am passionate about justice and if I secure the position of Police Crime Commissioner, I will comply to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, which requires Police and Crime Commissioners to hold Chief Constables to account.”

The full letter is below.

Dear Chief Constable Vaughan

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. My name is Dr Gail John and I am the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidate for Propel.

If I am to work with you as Police and Crime Commissioner, I need to be reassured that there is no difference between what you say and do. I also need to know that you can be trusted as an honest person with high levels of integrity who is, as the current PCC Alun Michael believes to be, ‘the right person to lead South Wales Police’.

I completed a six year doctoral research and thesis ACES TOO HIGH (2012-2018) and sent it for the perusal of the South Wales Police in April 2019. Having lived in Swansea all my life, I have sadly witnessed much injustice across the South Wales region towards many groups of people of all ages and backgrounds, from young people to the older generation.

I am a member of the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) and have attained the highest rank of Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH). I have worked as a teacher with students from primary to PhD postgraduate levels and have attained multiple postgraduate qualifications, including a Doctorate, Masters and have passed my Master’s in Laws public law exam. The ‘rule of law’ is widely accepted to be a critical part of an effective constitution, and as Oxford professor, Albert Dicey (1885) reminds us in his definition of the rule of law, “No one is above the law”.

Therefore, if I become the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales Police (SWP), I need to be reassured that you respect and comply to the National Policing Standards and Police Code of Ethics and comply to police policies which advocate evidence-based policing. As you may now be aware, the Police Code of Ethics (College of Policing, 2014), is the exemplary standards of behaviour for everyone who works in policing and is at:

‘The heart of every policy, procedure, decision and action in policing’. It is the “everyday decision-making framework… intended to encourage personal responsibility and the exercise of professional judgement; empowering everyone in policing to ensure they always do the right thing.”

The Police Code of Ethics (2014) outlines nine policing principles which are honesty, integrity, respect, fairness, accountability openness, objectivity and selflessness. Therefore, I have a number of questions that I would like to put to you. Since SWP’s Police & Crime Reduction Plan 2016-2021 has placed an ‘increasing emphasis on public scrutiny and transparency’ (Police & Crime Reduction Plan, 2016-2021, p.9), I am sure you will welcome my questions which are in the public interest.

1)    RE: David George Morris. It is known that Mr Morris’ DNA was not found at the murder scene at 9 Kelvin Road, Clydach (according to official appeal documents) and he has now served 20 years in prison. Since when has it been possible to test the DNA found at the crime scene? Will you agree to tests being carried out completely independently, with oversight from the defence legal team?  

2)    The South Wales Police has the worst record of miscarriages of justice in Britain over the past fifty years, will you appoint an independent investigator/outside police force investigate past failings in order to learn lessons?

3)    The public are concerned rightly that miscarriages of justice may be continuing to this day. For example, erroneous report after erroneous reports are submitted by children services departments to put children into care. What is being done about the lack of critical oversight of such reports? The underlying culture comprises too much of a lack of evidence-based practise across South Wales in my experience.  Why have no formal investigations been started into what may amount to fraudulent reporting, with false evidence being put before courts? Are you willing to begin investigations in such cases? I am aware of too many already.

4)    Are you aware of any gaps between policy and practise in trauma informed policing in South Wales? What training has been carried out to date, involving how many officers? When did the ACE initiative begin and how long did it take to put the model in place? What is being done to check that trauma informed policing is being carried out, because evidence appears to exist that it is not being done across the whole of the police force?

5)    As Chief Constable you need to be completely impartial and be seen to be. Were I to be successful, I would have great difficulty in working with someone who has become embroiled in party politics.  Why has the South Wales Police solely targeted Propel Leader Neil McEvoy? Officers have attended an outdoor street surgery and have attempted to caution him for leafleting in Cardiff in his own constituency. No other politician has been targeted in such a way. Informing the public about upcoming elections is essential work; we are able to receive information about what topping to have on our pizzas, yet you are seeking to prevent the public from knowing about how they are governed. Why are you implementing advice from the Executive’s advisors as law? What are you going to do about the impression that your force is acting in a party political way?

6) Why are members of the public being harassed exercising, whilst drug dealing is taking place unchallenged in too many places? Furthermore, why are communities like in Victoria Park, Cardiff having to police their own streets with patrols?

The full letter is below: 

Those who know me well, know that I am passionate about justice and if I secure the position of Police Crime Commissioner, I will comply to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, which requires Police and Crime Commissioners to hold Chief Constables to account.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Gail John