PCC apologises for ‘offensive’ Facebook messages

A police and crime commissioner (PCC) has been forced to apologise for social media messages calling travellers “pikeys” that he sent seven years ago.

Cambridgeshire PCC Jason Ablewhite was first questioned over the Facebook posts before he was elected in May 2016.

The comments, posted in 2009, made the derogatory reference to travellers and “Spanish asylum seekers” found in an “inflatable grotto lorry”.

Although the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)decided not to investigate the messages, Cambridgeshire police and crime panel recommended that he issue an apology.

The panel also suggested that he meet with the complainant and with members of the traveller community to smooth things over.

Mr Ablewhite’s messages were criticised by UKIP PCC candidate Nick Clarke, who accused him of thinking it funny “to discriminate against sections of our community”.

The Conservative PCC defended his messages, claiming they were just “banter” at the expense of work friends.

However, he has acted on all three recommendations.

Mr Ablewhite said: “I am pleased that the review of this complaint has now been concluded and I accept the recommendations that the panel have made.

“My position remains the same regarding the comments I made. I do accept that comments between myself and fellow councillors on Facebook in 2009 can be interpreted as offensive and I have apologised.

“I have now been in the job nearly six months and I have been hugely impressed by the dedication and passion of those I have met across the constabulary. There are also many challenges ahead.

“Moving forward, it is important we focus on building on these strengths and responding to the challenge.”

The consequences of Mr Ablewhite’s comments are far less severe than those that were faced by former youth police and crime commissioner for Kent, Paris Brown, in 2013.

Ms Brown quit the newly-created post just one week after being appointed following criticism over Tweets she sent that could be considered both racist and homophobic.

The 17-year-old faced demands to step down from two Conservative MPs, and former Home Affairs Select Committee chairman Keith Vaz described her views as “incompatible with holding office”.

Former Kent PCC Ann Barnes faced huge criticism from Kent Tories over the appointment.

A review later blamed Kent Police vetting procedures for not identifying the indiscretion.

Speaking to Police Professional, Mr Clarke accused the Conservatives of hypocrisy for not issuing harsher sanctions against Mr Ablewhite.

He said: “I think unfortunately they are very hypocritical. I think this is very typical of the way the Conservative Party protects its members.

“The way the Conservative Party has just brushed them off indicates to me that they are far more concerned with the gaining and retention of power than they are about putting the right people in the right posts.

Mr Ablewhite responded: “Both the IPCC and the police and crime panel have reviewed the complaint.

“The police and crime panel have recommended that no further action be taken. I am focusing all my energy on doing the job I was elected to do.

“It is up to the Conservative Party to decide what action to take. I was contacted by the party at the time and they accepted that I had apologised.”