Wales Child abuse
cover-up allegations
over top policeman
who quit
November 24, 2007
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2933503.ece
The chief constable who resigned amid allegations of financial wrongdoing and
misuse of police equipment was also being investigated in connection with his
force’s dismissal of child abuse claims against a judge, The Times can
disclose.
Terence Grange, (Pictured above) who resigned from the Dyfed-Powys Police on Monday, had been
accused by the judge’s ex-wife of allowing his professional relationship with
the judge to influence the force’s treatment of the claims.
He left his post days after the Independent Police Complaints Commission
(IPCC) launched separate investigations into potentially criminal financial
irregularities and alleged misuse of a work computer.
Members of the Dyfed-Powys Police Authority had refused to offer him their
continuing support.
The Times can reveal that in August the IPCC had ordered the police authority
to investigate the links between Mr Grange and the judge accused of
inappropriate behaviour towards children. It follows claims made by the
judge’s ex-wife that the judge had given a child a sexually transmitted
disease, viewed child pornography websites and misused transcripts from child
abuse cases that he had presided over.
Documents sent to the IPCC said the force had concluded that there was
insufficient evidence to interview the judge and decided not to analyse his
computer. The force then refused to accept a further complaint from the
ex-wife that the relationship between the judge and officer, who had worked
together on criminal justice issues, had biased its approach. But the IPCC
ruled in August that this complaint should have been investigated.
The judge, who cannot be identified, said previously: “It is not a subject I
would wish to comment upon in any circumstances.”
Mr Grange, 58, did not respond to a request by The Times’ for his reaction to
the bias claims. He has not spoken publicly about the IPCC investigation.
The Dyfed-Powys Police Authority did not comment on whether this investigation
into Mr Grange had been dropped, or whether the initial child abuse claims
made against the judge would be reinvestigated.
The IPCC is still investigating Mr Grange over potentially criminal alleged
financial wrongdoings. It is now powerless to investigate the alleged misuse
of a work computer because Mr Grange is no longer a serving officer.
On Tuesday the police authority revealed that Mr Grange had been accused of
sending “private e-mails concerning a personal relationship”.
The authority held an emergency meeting behind closed doors on Thursday to
discuss Mr Grange’s retirement. It is under fire from critics who claim that
the police chief has been “let off the hook” by being allowed to leave.
Helen
Mary Jones, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West
Helen Mary Jones, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West, said yesterday that
many serving officers felt that no other force member would have been allowed
to walk away from such allegations. In response, the authority released a
statement after Thursday’s meeting defending its actions.
It said: “The emergency committee considered that there were issues in front
of them that raised questions about Mr Grange’s judgment and it was important
to maintain confidence within the authority, force and our communities. It
therefore decided that it was in the public interest that his offer to retire
should be accepted with immediate effect.”
Mr Grange was spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers on child
protection issues and caused controversy last year when he asked whether it
was appropriate for young men who had sex with 15-year-old girls to be
described as paedophiles.
He became Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police in 2000, where he has presided
over improvements in police performance and a reduction in crime. This year he
was given a two-year extension to his contract.
Tony McNulty MP, the Home Office Minister, (left) said that the
chief constable at the centre of the child abuse scandal involving a Judge
should be congratulated for having “made a significant contribution to
policing in Wales”.
When Mr Grange announced his retirement, Tony McNulty, the Home Office
Minister, said that he should be congratulated for having “made a significant
contribution to policing in Wales”.
The IPCC said: “Once he left the police force we no longer had any power to
investigate him for computer misuse. But the allegations of financial
irregularities are different because, potentially, they could be criminal.”
Mr Grange has been replaced by Acting Deputy Chief Constable Andy Edwards.
Life in uniform
— Joined the Army at 15, serving with the Parachute Regiment
— Joined the Metropolitan Police in 1971 and came third out of 1,100
candidates in his promotion exams
— He has a masters degree in public services
— Chosen for accelerated training on special course for sergeants at the
Police Staff College, Bramshill
— In 1988 he transferred to Avon and Somerset Constabulary as a superintendent
— In 1994 he was made Assistant Chief Constable
— On March 17, 2000, he was appointed Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police
— He is married with three adult daughters
November 24, 2007
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2933503.ece
Related:
Daily Mail November 20 2007
Chief constable quits after woman complains over 'inappropriate emails'
Alleged misuse of a police computer
BBC, Tuesday, 20 June 2006
Chief constable Terence Grange says "parents DO NOT have a right to know where
paedophiles are living"
Paedophile policy 'not media-led'
