Ex-police union boss could face fraud charges
A former police union boss could face fraud charges over an alleged £1million swindle. Prosecutors are considering bringing charges against Will Riches, the former vice-chairman of the Police Federation, over fraud allegations. Mr Riches was arrested in March 2016 over claims of financial impropriety at the Police Federation.
A FORMER powerful police union boss could face fraud charges over an alleged £1million swindle.
Prosecutors are considering bringing charges against Will Riches, who resigned as vice-chairman of the Police Federation after fraud allegations in March 2016.
Mr Riches was arrested in the same month over claims of financial impropriety at the Police Federation.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been investigating an allegation of potential fraudulent activity relating to accounts held by the federation, which represents the interests of rank-and-file officers.
The allegations relate to the transfer of around £1million to a charitable account in August 2015, the IPCC said.
A file of evidence relating to Mr Riches, a Metropolitan Police officer, has been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, following a 16-month investigation.
Mr Riches, who joined the Met as a constable in 1995, was elected vicechairman of the federation in 2014, but stepped down from the post last year after allegations of fraud surfaced.
Mr Riches, 42, was, according to reports, known in police circles for his “fondness for fine wine and expensive restaurants”. As part of his job as vicechairman he had been living in a grace and favour flat at the organisation’s headquarters in Surrey but had left the apartment after quitting his post.
The Police Federation represents 123,000 police officers in England and Wales, and in 2014 Riches stood as a candidate to be its chairman. He got the same number of votes as his rival, but lost the job on a coin toss to Steven White, the current chairman.
Mr Riches was one of four men arrested in March 2016, including a Scotland Yard colleague, an officer from South Wales and a retired Greater Manchester Police officer.
The IPCC said while one Met officer had a case to answer for gross misconduct, the other two serving officers and a retired officer had no case to answer.
IPCC deputy chairman Sarah Green said: “This has been a complex financial investigation and I have now decided to make a referral to the CPS as our investigation has found that there
He was, according to reports, known in police circles for his ‘fondness for fine wine and expensive restaurants’
is an indication that one officer may have committed a criminal offence.
“I am now satisfied we have gathered all the available evidence and it is now for the Crown Prosecution Service to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to commence criminal proceedings.”
The Police Federation said it would be meeting with the IPCC to discuss “any findings”. It added; “Until those matters have been concluded it would be inappropriate to comment.”
A review into the Police Federation carried out in 2013 raised “serious questions” over its finances after it found the staff association was sitting on reserves of almost £65million.