º£½ÇÊÓÆµ

Oops.

Our website is temporarily unavailable in your location.

We are working hard to get it back online.

PRIVACY
Economic Development

West Midlands Plebgate police have 'big opportunity' to set record straight

Two officers facing MPs' committee as Keith Vaz reveals cost of row has reached almost a third of a million pounds

Sergeant Chris Jones (left) and Detective Sergeant Stuart Hinton

Two police officers from forces in the West Midlands who were caught up in the so-called Plebgate row face a "big opportunity" as they are hauled before MPs to apologise for giving "misleading" evidence, the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee has said.

Police Federation representatives Detective Sergeant Stuart Hinton and Sergeant Chris Jones will appear before the committee for the second time in as many weeks.

Along with Inspector Ken MacKaill, the two officers were accused of attempting to discredit former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell after meeting him in October last year.

The officers, who were representing the forces of West Mercia, Warwickshire and West Midlands, were spared misconduct proceedings by an internal investigation.

But the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) later disputed the findings and said there were issues of "honesty and integrity" among the three men.

Keith Vaz, chairman of the Select Committee, revealed that the cost of the investigation into the row has spiralled to almost a third of a million pounds and said Tuesday's hearing was important for the two officers who will face MPs again.

He told BBC Breakfast: "I'm sorry to say that in a number of respects they have given evidence that was not strictly accurate, so this is their big opportunity today to come before the committee and to explain why that happened and to correct the record."

Mr Vaz said he was frustrated with the time and cost of the inquiry.