Gary Verity: Welcome To Yorkshire contacts police and launches two investigations

Welcome To Yorkshire has launched two investigations and contacted the police over its former chief executive Sir Gary Verity.

The board of the tourism organisation says it will appoint two external, independent organisations to carry out these investigations.

One will look into concerns around expenses and the other into behaviour, since Sir Gary’s appointment in 2008.

As part of both of these, Welcome to Yorkshire’s policies, procedures and governance will be assessed, and where required, recommendations for improvements will be made.

The board has written to West Yorkshire Police to inform them of these investigations.

‘Mental torture’

YorkMix reported last month that Sir Gary resigned on health grounds, as concerns were raised in relation to his behaviour towards staff and his expenses.

Since then peer Lord Paul Scriven has called on the police to investigate, while allegations of ‘mental torture’ and a culture of bullying by Sir Gary have emerged.

WTY board member Deborah Egan said on Tuesday (2 April):

• Welcome to Yorkshire is a responsible organisation which has a duty to be transparent and accountable.

  As soon as the independent organisations have been appointed, anyone who believes they have been affected by these issues will be invited to come forward.

  They will be fully supported, and all accounts will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
  

The findings of these investigations, which “will be completed in a thorough and timely manner”, will be made public.