Complaint against Hampshire police and crime commissioner heard behind closed doors

A COMPLAINT made about Hampshire’s police and crime commissioner (PCC) was heard by councillors behind closed doors.

The county police and crime panel’s complaints sub-committee met in Winchester on Monday to discuss a complaint made against the PCC, writes David George of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It is unknown whether the complaint refers to current commissioner Donna Jones, or her predecessor, Michael Lane.

A challenge was made by the media against the bid to exclude the press and public from the discussion about the complaint, but members voted unanimously to discuss it in secret.

The Local Government Act 1972 allows agenda items at council – and crime panel – meetings to be heard behind closed doors under certain circumstances.

Panel chair David Stewart said: "My recommendation is that the press and public be removed from the meeting because it’s likely in the nature of proceedings that if members of the public were present there would be a disclosure of exempt information."

The exclusion, he added, was to protect the identity of the complainant who was described by Cllr Ken Muschamp as a "victim" moments before the meeting began.

The sub-committee considers complaints made against the PCC and puts an informal resolution to the full police and crime panel. The sub-committee does not have any investigative powers.