THE police and crime commissioner for Cheshire has been called to step down from the elected role by his predecessor.

John Dwyer, who held David Keane's position from 2012 to 2016, issued a public statement after attending every day of a gross misconduct hearing into the alleged behaviour of the chief constable of Cheshire Police with the exception of last Thursday, April 19.

Mr Dwyer, who appointed Simon Byrne as chief constable in 2014, has claimed Mr Keane 'is unfit to represent people across Cheshire as their police and crime commissioner'.

He said: "I have maintained a diplomatic silence since leaving the post of commissioner almost two years ago, but enough is enough.

"His approach to the role of police and crime commissioner is doing a disservice to the people of Cheshire, a disservice to the hard-working men and women of the Cheshire Constabulary and a disservice to the post of police and crime commissioner for Cheshire.

"Policing is far too important for it to be treated in this way.

"It is now time for David Keane to do the right thing and resign as police and crime commissioner."

Mr Dwyer also criticised Mr Keane for carrying out ‘campaigning in preference to doing what the public of Cheshire were paying him for’.

He added: "The hearing was also told of long delays in dealing with reports submitted to the commissioner by the chief constable of North Yorkshire.

"The commissioner stated that his office was vastly undermanned which put pressure on himself and the staff he did have.

"A key time for this investigation was around April and May 2017 and I am aware that the commissioner was heavily involved at this time in the campaign for the Labour Party parliamentary candidate for Warrington South constituency. He was initially the campaign manager.

"This is something he chose to do, even though the role of police and crime commissioner is intended to be non-political.

"He chose to do this campaigning in preference to doing what the public of Cheshire were paying him for.

"In the same way he chose to continue in post as a Warrington Borough councillor and a parish councillor in Warrington."

Last Monday, April 16, marked the first day of a disciplinary panel into the alleged conduct of chief constable Simon Byrne who is accused of bullying junior members of staff.

Mr Byrne, who was suspended in August, steadfastly denies the allegations, which date from May 2014 to March 2017.

An application was made by Mr Byrne's legal team on the first day of the hearing to dismiss the case on legal grounds due to procedural errors.

During the inquiry last week, Mr Keane was scrutinised for the investigation which was 'littered with procedural errors and irregularities'.

But Mr Byrne's legal team failed to have the case thrown out after a panel ruled that there had not been any significant prejudice against the chief constable who would be able to have a fair hearing. 

Speaking in response to Mr Dwyer’s statement, Mr Keane said: “It is regrettable that former senior police officer and police and crime commissioner John Dwyer has chosen to make comments at a time when this matter has not been resolved and the welfare of so many individuals involved in the case is paramount.

“Regulatory investigations, and hearings, involving senior police officers’ conduct are very complicated, but despite the chief constable’s legal team arguing very forcibly to not have the matter heard, the chair of the independent panel has indicated that there has been no significant prejudice against the chief constable to have a fair hearing. 

“Consequently, it is in the public interest that these matters be heard and the hearing will recommence in July.

“As with any legal process where there are ongoing proceedings, I do not think it is appropriate to make any further comments about any of the parties involved at this time. 

“Instead, we will be working to ensure the allegations of gross misconduct against the chief constable are concluded.”

Mr Byrne’s legal team has since indicated that they intend to challenge the independent panel’s decision via a judicial review, subject to securing funding. 

The case is expected to reconvene on July 2 but this is dependent on the decision regarding the judicial review. 

A spokesman for the commissioner’s office said: “It is unfortunate that witnesses, who have been waiting for a significant amount of time to give evidence, will have yet a further delay before they are able to tell their story.”

To read the latest from today's hearing click here.