BULLYGAN: APCC Condemns Bullying

BULLYGAN: APCC Condemns Bullying

by TIM HICKS, up-dating the PCC bullying scandal.

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The Association of Police & Crime Commissioners

The Association of Police & Crime Commissioners (APCC) offers the following services to its members, who are the 40 Police & Crime Commissioners in the UK the City of London Police Authority, the Mayor’s Office for Policing & Crime for the Greater London Authority, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Jersey Police Authority:

• Provides Information on national policing policy issues and legislation.
• Consults PCCs to enable them to develop policy positions and to influence change.
• Facilitates the leadership of PCCs on national governance structures such as the College of Policing, National Crime Agency, Police Reform and Transformation Board and other police professional bodies.
• Provides a range of opportunities for members to come together to debate and discuss national policing and criminal justice policy and engage with senior stakeholders.
• Assists PCCs to share practice and identify ways to achieve efficiencies through collaboration.

The Association of Police & Crime Commissioners adopted a new portfolio approach in which Police & Crime Commissioners have been given responsibility to lead on 20 newly configured portfolio areas.

The full list of portfolio areas, leads and deputy leads is available here.

As well as being the lead on ethics, North Yorkshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner is also the lead on reform of the police complaints system.

Association of Police & Crime Commissioners lead spokesperson on ethics Julia Mulligan condemns bullying in the police

Following on from the news that:

1. North Yorkshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner Mrs Julia Mulligan has had a complaint of bullying against a member of her staff (which was supported by three other members of her staff) upheld against her.

and

2. Another two members of staff have come forward to make allegations of bullying against her.

Making six of her employees out of a current workforce of fourteen (43%), but which was much smaller when these events occurred.

It is thought that some of Mrs Mulligan’s victims may have been women.

The North Yorks Enquirer thought its readers might be interested to read this statement from Police & Crime Commissioner Mulligan. In her statement she sets forth APCC policy on inappropriate conduct, in her capacity as lead spokesperson on ethics for the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners.

The above statement relates to sexual harassment, which is not relevant to Mrs Mulligan’s case. In her remarks Police & Crime Commissioner Mulligan says:

“I was disappointed to see that there still seems to be a problem with police personnel abusing their position and behaving inappropriately towards police staff. This is not acceptable in any form.” 

Thereby widening her condemnation to include all forms of unacceptable conduct, including bullying. Conduct she has been found to have indulged in.

NYE reports here and here

North Yorkshire Police Statement on Bullying

Bullying is a form of harassment, as described in this North Yorkshire Police Statement on Bullying

“Bullying can have a detrimental effect on young people, on their mental health, well-being, relationships and education. Bullying doesn’t just affect children but adults too and has no place in society.”

The potential impact of Mrs Mulligan’s conduct on policing in North Yorkshire 

I think it is obvious to all of our readers what the situation is, so I do not want to waste my time or theirs in covering it much further.

All forms of bullying and harassment are unacceptable and despicable. Police & Crime Commissioner Mulligan’s personal conduct is reprehensible for someone associated with the police service.

When 43% of the staff in an office publicly accuse their boss of gross misconduct and commence internal proceedings, it means that the office is dysfunctional and cannot work with its manager. In short, Police & Crime Commissioner Mulligan has become a disruptive element in the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, who is inhibiting its efficient operation.

Her conduct since the original finding of bullying has been even more offensive and erratic. She is now an embarrassment to her party, the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners, North Yorkshire Police and the Chief Constable.

Worse, her conduct has publicly undermined the commendable hard work of front line Constables, Sergeants and Inspectors to “stamp out” offences of harassment and internet bullying. Her credibility is zero.

Police & Crime Commissioner Mulligan has let the side down very badly. Unfortunately, the wagons have been circled, the Police & Crime Panel does not have adequate powers over a Police & Crime Commissioner and has decided not to refer Commissioner Mulligan to the police or to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). She will not resign and so it is game set and match to Julia.

Police & Crime Commissioner Mulligan’s response to the NYE sums it up nicely: 

“The Commissioner has made two statements on the matter, both of which are in the public domain. The complaint has also discussed at the recent Police & Crime Panel meeting, which was attended by the media. There is nothing further to add to those comments already in the public domain.”

No comment and move on, having successfully weathered the crisis.