‘I am doing the honourable thing’ – Philip Allott resigns as police commissioner
Philip Allott has announced his resignation as North Yorkshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner.
Following the furore over his remarks about Sarah Everard, and a unanimous vote of no confidence at today’s crime panel, Mr Allott said it was the ‘honourable thing’ to do.
In his letter of resignation, he said: “I apologise unreservedly for my remarks. They do not reflect my views.
“I misspoke and I am devastated at the effect that this has had on victims of crime and the groups that support them. I have tried to say this again and again but I recognise that what I have said has not always been heard as I intended.
“I had hoped I could rebuild trust, to restore confidence. I was pleased that so many victims groups had accepted that I was genuinely sorry and were willing to work with me to help me in the mammoth task I had ahead.
“Following this morning’s meeting of the Police and Crime Panel it seems clear to me that the task will be exceptionally difficult, if it is possible at all.”
He had been accused of victim blaming after he said in a radio interview that women should be more “streetwise” about powers of arrest and that Sarah Everard, whose family live in York, should not have “submitted” to arrest by her killer Wayne Couzens, a serving police officer.
‘Victims cannot be heard’
Rebuilding trust would take “time victims do not have,” he writes in his resignation letter. “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 as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner – to restore confidence in the office which I believe will be almost impossible for me to do, and to enable victims’ voices to be heard clearly without the distraction of the continued furore which surrounds me.”
Simon Dennis, chief executive of the office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said: “The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel will now arrange the appointment of an acting Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to be chosen in accordance with the law, from amongst the staff of the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
“Further announcements will be made by the Panel in due course.
“In the meantime, the staff of the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire and York will continue to work to protect communities, support victims and keep residents safe and feeling safe.”
A by-election will now take place to elect a new commissioner, a role with a £74K salary. This will be organised by the North Yorkshire Police Area Returning Officer.
‘Very relieved’
More than 1,000 complaints were made after Mr Allott’s comments.
The Prime Minister was said to have been outraged by the comments, seen as being worse as Ms Everard’s family live in York, and they were considered by many as victim-blaming.
York councillor Darryl Smalley tabled the motion of no confidence, which was carried unanimously at the Crime Panel meeting today.
He told David Dunning on YorkMix Radio: “We heard some really powerful testimony today, both from staff within his own office but also councillors of all parties. And I think his position was entirely untenable.
“I’m very relieved for the sake of policing in North Yorkshire – and trying to restore faith that the police force can tackle violence against women and girls in our county – that Philip Allott has stepped down as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
He described Mr Allott’s remarks as “hurtful and insensitive and completely unfounded”.