SOCA chair Sir Ian Andrews resigns

The chair of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has resigned after failing to declare an interest to the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC).

Sir Ian Andrews, who faced the committee to explain SOCA’s probe into private investigtors last month, said he had failed to declare his directorship with management company Abis Partnership Ltd when facing MPs, an act in contravention of SOCA’s code of conduct.

SOCA is due to be disbanded in October, when it will become part of the new National Crime Agency (NCA), and had been the subject of recent controversy around a list it holds of companies and individuals suspected of using the services of private investigators who hacked government agencies and competitors’ websites.

Sir Ian had originally planned to extend his contract through to the formation of the NCA, but left on Friday, August 1. He defended his conduct at the HASC hearing, but admitted his position had become untenable and he had “no alternative” to resigning.

“I have no explanation for this [failure to declare] other than it was both a genuine and unintentional oversight, but it is nonetheless inexcusable and the responsibility is mine alone,” he said. “This is a huge disappointment to me personally because I have been assiduous about avoiding conflicts of interest throughout a public service career spanning almost 40 years. And I should make clear, once again, that this is completely unconnected with the evidence I gave to the select committee, by which I stand, or issues associated with private investigators.”

Home Secretary Theresa May said she accepted Sir Ian’s resignation “with regret” and paid tribute to his work, adding an interim appointment “will be made in due course”.

“Sir Ian has had four decades of distinguished public service in roles ranging from Second Permanent Secretary and chief executive of Defence Estates, to his current position as the chairman of SOCA,” she said.