Nick Gargan

Nick Gargan, QPM is a former Chief Constable in England, who now runs his own consultancy company, Nick Gargan Consulting.

He was appointed Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Constabulary in March 2013, and immediately embarked upon an ambitious, and (in some quarters) controversial programme of reform.^[1] In May 2014 he was suspended because of allegations made by a third-party whistleblower of inappropriate behaviour towards female officers and/or staff. A protracted investigation by the IPCC found no evidence to support the original allegations, and at the ensuing disciplinary hearing the panel recommended that he be reinstated. Following the intervention of the Police and Crime Commissioner, he resigned from his post in October 2015.^[2] A BBC profile from October 2015 provides a succinct summary of his policing career, and its denouement.^[3]

Early life

Gargan studied French and politics at the University of Leicester.^[4]

Career

Gargan joined the Leicestershire Police in 1988 under the Graduate Entry Scheme.^[4] In the 1990s he was seconded to Interpol and the British embassy in Paris, where he worked on the investigation into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.^[2] In 1995 he was seconded to the National Criminal Intelligence Service. He returned to Leicestershire in 1998, and became a Chief Superintendent^[5] before transferring to the Thames Valley Police in 2006.^[4]

Gargan moved to the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) in early 2010,^[4] as Chief Executive and Chief Constable, where he oversaw the transfer of its functions into other policing bodies before its disestablishment.^[2] Gargan was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the New Year's Honours List 2012.^[4]

Chief Constable, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

Gargan was appointed as Chief Constable of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary in March 2013, following the retirement of Colin Port.^[6]

Suspension

In mid-May 2014, Gargan was suspended by Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens, as a result of allegations of 'inappropriate behaviour towards female officers and staff'. The enquiry into the allegations was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).^[2] During the period of Gargan's suspension and following his resignation, the force was led by the Deputy Chief Constable, John Long, and subsequently by Gareth Morgan, following Long's retirement

On 9 July 2015 Gargan was found guilty of eight counts of misconduct, none of which related to the original allegations. During the course of the investigation, which lasted more than 16 months, the IPCC found that Gargan had on occasions shared information with his partner by email, and had used his work mobile phone to send personal text messages. All charges of gross misconduct, and of inappropriate behaviour, were dismissed. The disciplinary panel found that none of his actions had done any real harm to the force, and that they did not justify dismissal: consequently they recommended that he return to work. In line with the panel's recommendations, his suspension was immediately lifted and a phased return to his role leading Avon and Somerset Constabulary was planned.^[7] However, there was vocal local resistance to the idea of Gargan returning to work: the Police Federation of England and Wales issued a statement questioning whether the public could have "confidence in his leadership" following the findings of the misconduct case, and a petition was set up campaigning for his resignation.^[8] All of this took place prior to the details of the misconduct findings being made public.

Ultimately, it was felt that the duration of Gargan's suspension, and the rumours and gossip that had circulated during that period, made his position untenable. On 16 October 2015, Gargan resigned from Avon and Somerset Constabulary.^[9] He was awarded three months' salary in lieu of notice.^[10]

Over the course of Gargan's suspension and immediately following his resignation a number of local MPs questioned the handling of the situation, the length of time the investigation took (at considerable expense to the tax-payers of Avon and Somerset), and the way the local media, and social media, contributed to the ending of his career in policing, calling the process a "witch-hunt" and "trial by media".^[11] The issue was the subject of a House of Commons Debate called by the MP for North East Somerset Jacob Rees-Mogg on 29 October 2015.^[12] There was also suspicion that the allegations and public campaign against Gargan had been orchestrated by elements within Avon and Somerset and more widely across policing who resented his leadership style and determination to modernise the force. ^[13] The case is seen to have highlighted weaknesses and risks within the current legislation that defines the respective roles and responsibilities of PCCs and Chief Constables, as well as raising questions about the remit and competence of the IPCC, as detailed in a blog by Gavin Hales, Deputy Director of criminal justice think-tank The Police Foundation.^[14]

Post-police career

Gargan took up a four-month contract with the global security company G4S in December 2015, as a programme director in its justice health division.^[15] He subsequently established Nick Gargan Consulting, providing strategic advice relating to leadership, transformation and policing to a range of clients.

Personal life

Gargan is divorced, and lives in London.

In April 2014, he took part in the London Marathon, in support of the charity Crimestoppers.^[2] His interests include running, cycling and opera, and he is a season-ticket holder at Leicester City Football Club.^[4]

References

External links

• Avon and Somerset Police Website