POLICE and crime commissioner Bill Longmore has appointed his former election campaign manager as his deputy, defying public opinion.

Mr Longmore, who was elected last month, has sparked outrage – and infuriated leading figures across Worcestershire – by confirming Barrie Sheldon as his £50,000-a-year number two.

The move was approved despite claims of cronyism and calls, including a campaign by the Worcester News, for the role to be properly advertised and the appointment made in an open way.

More than 1,000 people voted in our online poll, with 93 percent calling the move 'cronyism'.

Only last week the police and crime panel (PCP), a watchdog-style body, recommended he change his mind amid concerns about transparency.

The job was not advertised, nor did Mr Longmore make it public before the election campaign that he would appoint a deputy.

The pair now earn £125,000 between them to run West Mercia Police – enough to fund five new bobbies on the beat.

Councillor Adrian Hardman, leader of Worcestershire County Council and a member of the panel, said he was “bitterly disappointed”.

“I am very unhappy he did not listen to our views – it’s a tainted start,” he said.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said: “It’s a tragedy that his first act as police and crime commissioner is to undermine his own authority like this.

“This is an exceptionally bad start and very worrying. I do not agree he needs a deputy at all, and quite apart from that, why didn’t he tell us this was his intention before he was elected?”

Coun Paul Middlebrough, who chairs the PCP, said: “It’s hugely disappointing. We put forward a proposal which would have allowed him to go forward with public confidence, and thought it incumbent on him to take our advice, but he’s failed to do that.”

A statement released by Mr Longmore’s office said he had “carefully considered” the criticism. It read: “Barrie’s role will be vital to assist me to discharge the major responsibilities the Government has set.

“These, to be achieved in a very short space of time, include producing the police and crime plan and working with the chief constable to set the precept.

West Mercia is a huge geographical area and there is simply no way I could do justice to the one million-plus people right across the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire on my own.”

The pair were colleagues at Staffordshire Police 30 years ago, which is where they first met.

Mr Sheldon, aged 57, reached the ranks of detective inspector before retiring in 2004 and going into lecturing at Teesside University.

He said: “I am keen to focus on listening to local people and to addressing their concerns about the future of the policing service.”

WHAT THE PCC REPORT SAID

The report from the police and crime panel said it was “disappointed” Mr Longmore did not “make it known during the election campaign” that he wanted a deputy.

  • It remarked there was “a lack of openness and transparency” in finding a suitable deputy, with no competitive process.
  • The report also said the move did not take account of the “Nolan principle”, an ethical code guarding public sector appointments which states “holders of public office” should not allow friends to be employed, therefore gaining financially – this rule is listed in the code under “selflessness”.
  • It says the criteria used to assess Mr Sheldon’s suitability “lacked detail”.
  • The letter said the basis for Mr Sheldon’s £50,000 salary was “unclear”, and there is a lack of clarity and detail over the actual role.

MR LONGMORE'S RESPONSE

MR Longmore’s written response said he followed a perfectly lawful and proper process, and that he needs a deputy due to the workload.

  • He said Mr Sheldon will help him across “the entire depth” of his responsibilities, saying the wide brief is entirely intentional.
  • It stated the £50,000 salary was identified following talks with West Mercia Police’s human resources department.
  • He also argued that the appointment was transparent because it had to be reviewed by the police and crime panel in the first place.
  • He said Mr Sheldon is not a “long-standing friend”, acknowledging he did know him as a colleague in Staffordshire Police, but said that, after he left the force more than  25 years ago, they were not in contact again until the election campaign.