A police chief has called for an investigation into a leak which led a regional daily to reveal he was temporarily leaving his role – 24 hours before he planned to announce it.
The Leicester Mercury reported that Leicestershire police and crime commissioner Sir Clive Loader would be leaving his position because of a chronic back problem, and also revealed the plans for selecting his stand-in.
Sir Clive had intended to make an announcement at a police and crime panel meeting the day after the Mercury published the story, but the information was passed to the paper in advance.
He has now described the leak as an “outrageous breach of confidence” and asked the panel to investigate the matter.
In a statement, also reported by the Mercury, he said: “I would very much like to know how information given in confidence became known not only to partner agencies but to the media and the wider public in advance of the panel meeting.
“This outrageous breach of confidence has caused me and my wife considerable distress and anger.
“Accordingly, I now invite members of the panel to commission an immediate independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding this breach of trust and confidence.”
Sir Clive said he had, in advance and in confidence, passed the information to panel chairman, Leicestershire County Council member Joe Orson, and a council officer on Tuesday.
Councillor Orson responded he would not order an investigation and that he resented any criticism of his integrity or that of the council official.
He wrote to Sir Clive saying that in his experience investigations into how something is leaked to the press proved to be “entirely futile”.
Mercury politics reporter Dan Martin, who wrote the story, told HTFP: “It actually doesn’t look like there is going to be an investigation but if there is I won’t be contributing to it.
“Although it sounds like a cliché, journalists shouldn’t give up their sources.
“I can understand why the police and crime commissioner is upset that things didn’t go to his timetable, but the story was accurate and it was in the public interest so we ran it.
“It’s just a bog standard case of reporter does job and uses contacts to write stories.”
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May I respectfully request that Sir Clive gets over it and concentrates on recovering from his ailment? This is just another case of a jumped up public official, who thinks he has a right to manage the news agenda.
The public of Leicestershire don’t need time and money spent on fatuous inquiries.
Praise to Dan Martin for his good work.
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Well said Dan.
Don’t know why the commish is so outraged, not exactly watergate is it? He’s got a bad back, he’s taking a break, oh no!
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Tying police up on a witch hunt to find out who ‘leaked’ something that was about to be announced anyway is a waste of resources.
Can’t understand why this chap and his missus were distressed at the news coming out a smidgin early. Maybe such a powerful role isn’t for someone so emotionally fragile.
Reporter does good job, upsets someone who thinks he is very important. Nothing to see here, move on please.
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I just hope the police can hold the line against the rampaging criminal hordes while the good commissioner is out of action. Hurry back Clive!
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Another case of a journalist cutting his own throat. Of what interest is the man’s back problem to the general public? The news was going to come out anyway in 24 hours. All that has happened here is that the paper has lost a useful contact.
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Glass half empty – because it’s his job.
I also doubt he was a useful contact, just someone who issues press releases when it suits.
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Right of reply (please!):
Jeff Jones…you doubt. Never assume anything in journalism. Always know before you put pen to paper.
If it’s his job he should (or rather the editor should) have the sense to protect the jobs of his staff and save the powder for the stories that really matter otherwise the .paper will lose public trust and even more readers.
Most daily papers I know of rely on the police to tell them what went on in court, the details of road accidents, missing persons etc etc.
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
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Now perhaps it’s becoming clear why Labour want to scrap these commissioner positions that serve no purpose and waste valuable money that could go into policing at the sharp end.
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Good old plod!
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A bit of a risk annoying him when they might want to do an indepth interview with him later. In any case, I’m slightly surprised that they didn’t appear to go to him for comment before publication.
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as usual its a 50-50 case. Comm is a bit too testy but the scoop was as dull as ditchwater, thought credit to hack for contacts. Who really cares about this story?
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