Following a letter that the Police and Crime Commissioner received from West Midlands Police regarding the conduct of the Deputy Commissioner, she was suspended pending an investigation. The OPCC’s investigating officer found there was a case to answer and that a Disciplinary Hearing should follow. This has now taken place, presided over by an independent panel. The panel has decided that the Deputy Commissioner’s actions represented Serious Misconduct. The Deputy Commissioner has also been asked to apologise to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, West Midlands Police and, most importantly, the family of Kenichi Phillips. As she has not offered an apology, she remains suspended until her contract ends on 11 May 2016.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said,
“An independent Disciplinary Panel met yesterday and heard all the evidence, including a substantial statement from Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Yvonne Mosquito.
“I have accepted the findings of the independent Disciplinary Panel.
“The Panel found that the Deputy Commissioner did not make the Force or the Office aware of the visit before or after it was made. The work of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner must not interfere with the operational independence of policing. The panel found that the actions of the Deputy Commissioner clearly interfered with operational policing.
“The Panel found that, based on evidence submitted by both Kenichi Phillips’ family and the Force, the visit caused ongoing upset and distress to the family and, at the time, damaged the relationship between the family and West Midlands Police in the middle of a complex and sensitive murder investigation.
“The family confirmed that they were made to feel that the Deputy Commissioner was in their home in an official capacity as she left her Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner business card with them, and sought to raise a range of issues that were not pastoral or spiritual.
“The family also confirmed that, despite being requested by the Deputy Commissioner to do so, they did not pray with her.
“On the basis of the Panel’s findings, I have issued the Deputy Commissioner with a final written warning and asked her to apologise, in writing, both to the Force and the family. She has so far not done so.
“I am sorry that a member of my staff, the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, made the already complex job of the officers investigating this awful crime more difficult.
“More importantly still, I regret that the Deputy Commissioner broke the agreement that had been reached between the family and the Family Liaison Officers on how contact with the police would be conducted. I am thankful to the family for explaining how the visit made a difficult time much worse, caused them additional pain and grief, and was disrespectful.
“Again, I offer my deepest condolences for the tragic loss they have suffered.”
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