Nick Gargan: Chief constable 'should quit'

Nick Gargan was appointed chief constable in January 2013 and was suspended in May 2014

A suspended chief constable has "lost the confidence" of his officers and staff and should resign, the chief inspector of constabulary has said.

Sir Thomas Winsor outlined his views in a report after being consulted about Avon and Somerset PCC Sue Mountstevens' plans to ask Nick Gargan to step down.

He agreed Mr Gargan has lost the confidence of the force at all levels, having been found guilty of misconduct.

Sir Thomas also disputed that Mr Gargan was the victim of a "witch hunt".

Some local Conservative MPs say he has been treated unfairly.

Sir Thomas said he found that "inherently improbable" given that the PCC appointed Mr Gargan herself "in circumstances which led to considerable criticism".

He said that as Unison, the Police Federation, the Superintendents' Association and the Chief Officer Group have all expressed a lack of confidence in Mr Gargan, he "cannot see" how he could continue to lead the force "efficiently and effectively".

'Intimate' material

Sir Thomas added that if Mr Gargan is unwilling to resign, he supports the PCC's plan to use new powers to call upon him to quit, a process which would effectively force him out.

The decision will now go to the local police and crime panel for scrutiny, although ultimately Ms Mountstevens has the final word.

Mr Gargan was suspended in May 2014, amid allegations of inappropriate conduct towards female staff.

An IPCC investigation found those allegations were not proven, but that he had "repeatedly breached data protection principles" and had stored "intimate" material on his police-issue phone.

He was cleared of gross misconduct by an independent QC-led panel, but it found him guilty of eight misconduct charges and recommended he receive eight final written warnings.

Announcing her decision in August to initiate the process to call upon him to go, Ms Mountstevens said his position had become "untenable".