Commissioner's misogynistic remarks were 'damaging', says fire chief

Stephen Mold has apologised for his comments and said not seeking re-election was "the right thing to do"

Misogynistic comments made by Northamptonshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner were "hurtful and damaging", the county's fire chief said.

Stephen Mold's words "were not a reflection of the values we embody", said Acting Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill.

Mr Mold said he would not seek re-election after his "mistake".

However, he will stay in his post until a successor is elected in May.

Mr Mold made the comments about Nikki Watson, who he had recently appointed as chief fire officer, at a meeting with firefighters.

Ms Watson is currently the subject of an Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) inquiry relating to her time as deputy chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police.

The commissioner is understood to have replied to a question on what would happen to Ms Watson if she were not cleared of wrongdoing by the IOPC.

Simon Tuhill said Stephen Mold's comments fell short of the standards of the fire service

In a statement, Mr Tuhill said: "Everyone who works in our service should be confident to come forward and challenge unacceptable behaviour and language in any form, from anyone - no-one is above that challenge.

"While the commissioner is accountable to the public, he fell short of the standards we expect from ourselves, and his remarks clearly made it impossible for him to legitimately hold me and this service to account."

He said that he had been contacted "by many members of staff expressing their concern and outrage".

"Everyone who works here joins me in condemning the comments made and reassuring the public that disrespect or hate of any kind has no place in our service," he said.

The county's Police Federation branch and the Fire Brigades Union have also condemned Mr Mold's comments in recent days.