Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Neil Rhodes’ suspension from the force has been quashed in court on Thursday.
Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick’s decision to suspend Mr Rhodes has been described as “irrational” and “perverse” by the judge after a hearing at the Administrative Court in Manchester.
Neil Rhodes returned as Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable on Thursday evening, but the contract for his temporary role expires on March 31.
Deputy Chief Constable Alec Wood, was named Acting Chief Constable during the suspension, is set to continue in the role from Tuesday.
Neil Rhodes is contracted for another year as Deputy Chief Constable. He took on this role under Chief Constable Richard Crompton, who retired in March 2012 and appointed Neil Rhodes as Temporary Chief Constable.
As previously reported, Mr Rhodes and the first elected Lincolnshire PCC Alan Hardwick were in court this week over Chief Constable’s suspension.
The PCC suspended Mr Rhodes on February 25 over matters relating to his involvement in allegations of racial discrimination.
Alan Hardwick claimed Mr Rhodes assisted West Yorkshire Police lawyer Afzal Hussain, who was suing his former employer after he was dismissed from the force after 17 years.
The PCC claimed Neil Rhodes helped the senior Muslim lawyer to use his ethnicity to pursue damages from the force, despite knowing the claim was a “contrivance”.
Mr Rhodes denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers argued that the PCC’s decision was “near nuclear”, done either through inexperience or without the appropriate advice.
Mr Hardwick’s lawyers argued that he was “justified” in suspending the Chief Constable.
The court ordered the costs of the case, estimated to be £50,000, to be met by the PCC, which has subsequently confirmed Lincolnshire taxpayers will foot the bill.
After the suspension in February, the PCC referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and put Acting Chief Constable Alec Wood in charge of the force meanwhile.
The IPCC referred the matter back to the PCC and said it will not look further into the matter because it did “not amount to serious corruption or misconduct.”
Sir Peter Fahy, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, has also been appointed by the PCC to carry out an independent investigation into the matter.
Different interpretation
Alan Hardwick, the first elected Lincolnshire PCC. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Alan Hardwick said in a statement after the hearing: “Whilst I accept today’s decision, I must emphasise that the court’s interpretation of the information I received is very different to mine.
“My concern is that in future, any decision made by a Police and Crime Commissioner which could be considered contentious, is likely to be open to challenge in the courts. The investigation into the serious allegations is still ongoing under the direction of Sir Peter Fahy.”
Chief Constable resumes control
Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Neil Rhodes. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Chief Constable Neil Rhodes returned to Lincolnshire Police HQ on Thursday evening and issued his first statement since getting back in control of the force.
He said: “Having been reinstated as a Constable and Chief Constable, I have travelled back from the judicial review hearing at Manchester and have met with my chief officer team and have resumed control of the force.
“Over the Easter period I will be taking a long-planned period of leave and I look forward to serving the community of Lincolnshire as best I am able upon my return.
“I would very much like to thank the huge number of people in the Lincolnshire Police and ordinary members of the public for their messages of support which number several hundred. I am really grateful to them and I want to get back to work to repay their faith in me.
“The most important thing now is that all of our attention turns to policing the County of Lincolnshire,” Chief Constable Rhodes added.
‘Common sense prevailed’
Neil Rhodes also read a statement outside the court in Manchester, saying the proceedings were “entirely unnecessary” and took a toll on him and his family.
He said: “I’m very pleased with the decision of the judge today who has declared my suspension irrational and perverse and therefore unlawful.
“I will return to work now and continue to serve Lincolnshire Police with the personal and professional integrity that I believe I have displayed over the past 27 years.
“The judgement today has demonstrated this was entirely unnecessary, as the PCC’s concerns should have been resolved professionally and with proper investigation.
“I endeavour to resolve this and had hoped common sense would prevail. I maintained a dignified silence in the media throughout. Court was absolutely my final recourse.
“I now look forward to a mature and constructive discussion with the commissioner about my future working relationship.”
Reality check for PCCs
Lincoln MP Karl McCartney, who has previously written to Home Secretary Theresa May over the issue, commented: “After the decision by the IPCC not to investigate this matter, this verdict by the High Court in Manchester should be seen as a reality check for PCCs up and down our country.
“Commissioners need to think long and hard before taking the decision to suspend a chief constable, and as my initial reservations have borne out, this case just goes to show there are always two sides to every story.”
Calls for PCC resignation
Giles McNeill, Conservative Councillor for the Nettleham Ward, has called on PCC Alan Harwick to resign following the ruling.
Councillor McNeill said: “It is clear that Alan Hardwick is not up to the job of being Police and Crime Commissioner. He has bungled this suspension of the Chief Constable, Neil Rhodes.
“It was clear that something was amiss when, having referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, they decided that the matter was not sufficient for their investigation.
“The time has come for Commissioner Hardwick to do the honourable thing and resign,” Giles McNeill added.
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Ukrainian Independence Day is this month, marking 21 years of freedom from the Soviet Republic, and after the tragedy of Russian invasion earlier this year, a march of solidarity and remembrance will be held in Lincoln.
The walk will take place on Wednesday, August 24, 21 years after the 1991 Declaration of Independence in Ukraine, to celebrate the country in all its glory.
It will take on added poignance this year given the tragedy of the Russian invasion of the Eastern European nation, which has seen a total of 5,514 civilian deaths verified by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Lincolnshire people have opened their homes to refugees from Ukraine | Photo: Bradley Wall
The walk begins at 5.45pm, leaving St Mary le Wigford Church – the base of the Ukrainian Cultural Centre of Lincoln – before meandering through the High Street, the Strait, Steep Hill and Exchequergate.
It will arrive at the intended destination of Lincoln Cathedral where a short ceremony will be held outside the monument in memory of the “Lost Children of Ukraine” – before people make their own way home.
| Photo: John Aaron for The Lincolnite
To embrace the true spirit of the event, participants are encouraged to either hold or wear something blue and/or yellow, signifying the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
Lincolnshire has been a keen player in Ukraine support since the initial fallout of the Russian invasion, with more than 800 Ukrainian people welcomed to safety in our county so far.
At the end of February, just days after Russian troops began their invasion, a well-attended candlelit vigil was held at Lincoln Cathedral, while the iconic landmark lit up in Ukraine’s blue and yellow colours.
Staff and students from the University of Lincoln stood in solidarity with Ukraine. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
As well as this, over 100 University of Lincoln staff and students stood shoulder to shoulder on campus in a defiant act of solidarity back in March – promising anyone affected by the conflict that they are not alone.
In April, the Lincoln Run for Ukraine, organised by those behind the annual Santa Fun Run – the Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia – saw the community get their running shoes on for a good cause around the city.
A historic chapel will become a Greylees’ “premier venue” when it becomes a tea room and cocktail bar, the people behind it say.
The New Chapel on Kinross Road in Greylees, near Sleaford, has been granted a license following a major refurbishment.
The new establishment has been widely welcomed by the community.
However, there were worries from some that the 1am closing time on Friday and Saturday nights would lead to disruption for residents.
Owner Freida Alrashaid told North Kesteven District Council’s licensing committee: “The response on social media and in person has been overwhelming support. The community is very much excited for this.”
She took the late 19th century building on in 2014, and had been working to restore and bring it back into use ever since.
Ramal, who will be the Designated Premises Supervisor, said: “Blood, sweat and tears have gone into this – that shows you our level of passion.
“This will be the premier venue in Sleaford for people to come and enjoy themselves. We hope that people will be happy with what we have produced.”
He assured worried residents that they wanted to serve the local community, and not cause a nuisance to them.
The building was abandoned for a number of years. | Image: David Bosworth
The venue will be licensed to serve alcohol until 11pm Sunday to Thursday and 1am Friday to Saturday, although this will mainly be used for special events.
However, some local residents said at the meeting they still had concerns about late night noise.
Chris Cocks said: “This is a peaceful area to love – with such a late license in the evenings, we will hear the noise and it will be intrusive. We haven’t had assurances on noise limiting technology.
“I am in favour of this venture, but the disruption in the early hours of the morning does worry me.”
Sarah Freeman said she was also worried about the effect on nearby families with young children.
However, Jan Gunter told the committee: “I live around 150 yards away and have no objections at all. We know that 1am events will be the exception rather than the rule.
“We have been promised so many facilities for the area over the years and none have been realised. This is to be welcomed.”
The applicants said they would endeavour to stop noise travelling, and would ask large parties not to park on the street.
The committee has granted the license application, saying that “no evidence had been presented to show there will be problems with anti-social behaviour, increase in traffic noise and parking noise, and that the information was speculative.”
The building was previously Rauceby Hospital Chapel but fell into disrepair over the years.
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