Philip Allott: Vote of no confidence in policing boss PASSED
The commissioner has now resigned
Last updated 14th Oct 2021
UPDATE: Philip Allott has now quit
READ MORE: Philip Allott: Policing boss QUITS over Sarah Everard comments
Earlier we reported...
A panel has unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in North Yorkshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, over comments he made about Sarah Everard.
In an interview, Philip Allott said the 33-year-old should not have "submitted" to being arrested by service Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens.
The Conservative commissioner apologised and retracted the comments, but has faced calls to resign and complaints.
The vote at the area's Police and Crime Panel is not legally binding, and doesn't mean Mr. Allott has to leave his job.
It reads: 'Following the comments made by the commissioner and his subsequent response in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard, this Panel resolves that due to his performance, it no longer has confidence in Mr Allott undertaking the role of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner .
'Whilst this panel does not have the power to remove Mr Allott from his post, we suggest that to restore faith in policing across North Yorkshire and the Office of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, he should resign from his position.
Councillor Keith Aspden, City of York Council Leader and Vice Chair of the York and North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel, commented: “As a panel in charge of scrutinising the Commissioner’s work and performance, it was crucial that we send a message of condemnation over his appalling comments.
“It’s frankly outrageous that Police Commissioners are so unaccountable to the residents they are elected to serve. The ‘recall’ laws which apply to MPs should urgently be extended to include Police Commissioners, who are have direct power in deciding how to spend taxpayer’s money.
“The Commissioner’s comments and his failure to recognise their impact are simply unforgivable and he should resign immediately.
"It is incredibly important that local communities across North Yorkshire have confidence in the police, and the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner is supposed to be resident's voice and advocate in leading change and maintaining trust in the police. It is now without any doubt that Mr Allott has lost the trust of the residents he has been elected to represent."
The panel confirmed this morning that they've received 121 complaints directly, and over 800 complaints have been sent to the office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
Excerpts from the complaints were read out by Diane Parsons from the panel, including the quotes: "I am concerned as to how someone who should serve the public is able to do such a job when his public comments are that the responsibility lies with women.
"PFCC is a publicly funded office and I’m ashamed at the response to the murder of a fellow North Yorkshire woman.
"It was a weak apology and wasn’t sufficient. As a woman living in North Yorkshire I don’t feel he’s fit to oversee a police force that advocates for women".
Leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Carl Les, chaired the panel this morning and said Mr Allott must consider his position: "I welcome the news of the further work and investment that is being planned, but notwithstanding what I've heard I don't see how it addresses the issues, the volume, the anger, the hurt and the fears raised by your remarks or your retraction.
"I have taken soundings across the council and the overall view by a big margin is that we have lost confidence in you now. That is very frustrating as we recognise the encouraging start that you have made with your agenda.
"We cannot make you resign - we can only make recommendations. But I do think you have to consider your position now".
Councillor Helen Grant from Richmondshire said: "I want to express my great concern at the insensitivity of the Commissioner's remarks, which can't be unsaid. For what it is worth, I am a streetwise woman and I have challenged when addressing a police officer.
"I sincerely doubt that asking an officer to call in to verify their identity would ever be a workable situation. Why do you call on women to change their behaviour, when we are all citizens who should be able to walk around freely without intimidation.
"I'm extremely saddened that Sarah Everard's family and friends have had to endure the circus created by your comments. I'm shocked that despite the public outcry, despite the petition and despite the crass comment you're still sitting in your position.
"I would ask why haven't you resigned?"
Councillor Mike Chambers said: "This will continually haunt you, Philip, whether you like it or not.
"What you said cannot be unsaid. What you said was crass in the extreme, it was totally insensitive. It paid no regard at all to the concerns that women and girls have going about their daily lives".
In response, Mr Allott said he won't resign at this point, instead promising to work on regaining trust: "I’d like to reiterate my apologies to everyone without reservation.
"My answer in that interview was a car crash, wrong and grossly insensitive. I owe it to the many organisations who wish to meet up with me following my comments.
"I’d like to propose that while you want to condemn my handling of the interview, you’ll welcome my meetings with various groups. Since elected I’ve approved a £1.3 million programme called Early Action Together, which is focused on early screening and treatment.
"North Yorkshire Police was one of the first forces to make misogyny a hate crime, but I'm keen to push for more diversity.
"I can see that tensions are running high. If everyone resigned who made a mistake nothing would ever get done in the country. The fundamental question is ‘can I regain trust’? If I can’t then I’ll do the honourable thing (and resign).
"Victims are the key people who we need to serve. Councillor Chambers is right by saying this issue will haunt me whether I walk or don’t walk. It’s right that I undertake that training that I have already started."