Legal news in brief - 5 October 2012
Posted: 5 October 2012
A senior police officer is set to retire in early 2013 due to controversy over the part he played in the Hillsborough tragedy, as well as comments he made after a recent report into the subsequent police coverup.
Sir Norman Bettison, West Yorkshire Police’s chief constable, is currently under investigation from the IPCC for his actions following Hillsborough, accused of supplying misleading information which may have played a part in the smearing of Liverpool fans which took place in the aftermath.
He also recently claimed that the actions of fans made it “harder than it needed to be” for police to handle the situation.
Complaints have been received over both these issues and Bettison has elected to step down.
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Nearly half of voters do not believe that the election of police commissioners will make a difference to policing, according to a recent poll.
And almost two-thirds expressed discontent over candidates for the position being backed by political parties.
The survey, by the Royal United Services Institute and YouGov, also found that just 1 in 10 people actually understood the purpose of the new position, and only 20% were sure that they would even vote.
The poll results are the latest strikes against the police elections, which have already been criticised for poor organisation and low estimates for voter turnout.
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A Public Accounts Committee Report has blasted the tax arrangements of a number of public sector employees, saying too many are allowed to deal with their own taxation and national insurance payments.
MPs have expressed the worry that this may allow these workers to get away with paying less than they should through loopholes and tax avoidance.
Margaret Hodge, who chaired the committee, said that civil servants should “show leadership” by paying the appropriate amount of tax, rather than making arrangements which allow them to underpay.