Simon Hayes, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is subject to an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, accused of not being registered as living in Hampshire during the Police and Crime Commissioner election process.
MoS: Hayes ‘said to spend time in a Northamptonshire’
The story, appearing in today’s Mail on Sunday (MoS), say that Simon, ‘is said to spend time in a Northamptonshire village with his vicar wife while having claimed he lived just outside Southampton.’
It reports that his wife is the vicar of Earls Barton, Northants.
PCC election rules
The MoS states that those standing for the PCC elections, ‘had to be on the relevant electoral roll both on the day they were nominated and on polling day, November 15.’
If these rules are not complied with, it could be judged as election fraud. The implications, if he’s found guilty, are detailed below.
The MoS goes on to state that, ‘He has worked in the county for many years, previously owned a house there and gave his address as a house in the small town of Bishop’s Waltham. But he does not own it, although he has been staying there.’
Hayes: “Content” with nomination
We contacted the office of Simon Hayes, but at the time of publishing, hadn’t received a response. He told the MoS,
“I am content that I completed the nomination form correctly. There is an accusation which is being investigated by the IPCC. I am quite content that it is being investigated.”
The IPCC confirmed to OnTheWight that they have recently started an investigation following a referral having been made to them. They said they were at an early stage of the investigation and had nothing to add at this point.
Michael Mates, who led the first round of vote counting in the PCC election, was also accused of living outside Hampshire, in the run up to the election.
The implications
If the IPCC can find evidence of the accusation, the MoS says, “a senior commissioner will decide whether to pass the file to the Crown Prosecution Service.” Then would follow changes, a plea and a trial, if the charge was disputed.
The MoS reports that as Hayes hasn’t appointed a deputy as yet, ‘local councillors would be forced to choose unelected members of the PCC’s staff as temporary replacements’.
Following that, fresh elections would have to be run. Various people are quoted in the article, including Jacqui Rayment, who stood as for Labour in Hampshire, concerned about the cost of another election. The MoS estimate two elections – the MoS article also cites a Welsh PCC – could cost £3.6m.
Idea of PCC not popular with Police
Senior Police officers at a national level have been vocal in their objections to being overseen by an elected official, since the idea of the PCC was first suggested.
Shortly before the PCC election, the then-head of the Police in Hampshire and IW, Alex Marshall, decided to leave the force. His replacement, Andy Marsh, was selected by Simon Hayes.
Thanks for Retired Hack for bringing this to our attention.
Source: Mail on Sunday article
