Everard row policing chief quits amid new sexism claims
North Yorkshire crime commissioner steps down after unanimous vote of no confidence from staff
A POLICING chief who claimed Sarah Everard should not have submitted to arrest by her killer has been forced to quit after facing fresh claims of sexist behaviour towards his staff.
Philip Allott announced his resignation as North Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner after he suffered a 11-0 vote of no confidence yesterday from the force’s policing panel of councillors.
The Conservative commissioner’s resignation came hours after a letter emerged, signed by the “overwhelming majority” of his 32-strong team, saying they had no confidence in him and accusing him of making “sexist and misogynistic comments” to female staff.
It followed remarks he made two weeks ago suggesting women should be more “streetwise” about powers of arrest and that Ms Everard should not have “submitted” to arrest by her killer Wayne Couzens, a serving officer.
They provoked a storm of protest, with 1,000 complaints to his office. Tory chairman Oliver Dowden said he and Boris Johnson were “outraged” by the “completely unacceptable” comments, seen as being all the worse because Ms Everard’s family live in York.
However, even yesterday morning Mr Allott remained defiant despite the 11 members of his policing panel telling him that he should do the “honourable thing” and quit because of the “catastrophic lack of confidence”.
He said he apologised “unreservedly” for comments that were “wrong, entirely misconceived and grossly insensitive”, but he maintained: “I have to say that if everyone who made a mistake resigned, nothing would get done in this country.”
However, after being told by close advisers his position was untenable, he issued a statement that he was quitting the £74,000-a-year role. “I misspoke and I am devastated at the effect that this has had on victims of crime and the groups that support them,” he said.
He said he had hoped to “rebuild trust, to restore confidence” but admitted that following the panel vote, it was clear the task would be “exceptionally difficult, if it is possible at all”.
“It would take a long time and a lot of resources of my office and the many groups who do excellent work supporting victims. This is time victims do not have. There are women and girls in York and North Yorkshire today suffering at the hands of men.
“Victims and the groups who support them need to be heard. They cannot be heard if the airwaves are filled with discussion about my future. That is why I am doing the honourable thing and resigning.”
The panel had no power to remove Mr Allott or even sanction him – and could only appeal to him to quit. There are now likely to be calls for police and crime commissioners to be subject to a similar recall process as MPS, where a petition signed by 10 per cent of the electorate can force them out.
An acting commissioner will be chosen from Mr Allott’s former staff until a by-election is held.
‘I have to say that if everyone who made a mistake resigned, nothing would get done in this country’