Dear Mr Kirk,

The law states that the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales is the “Appropriate Authority” to deal with complaints about the personal conduct of the Chief Constable of South Wales Police.  You contacted the Independent Police Complaints Commission with a complaint and the Commission has passed your complaint on to me for attention.

I understand that you are making complaints about both the previous Chief Constable, Barbara Wilding, and the current Chief Constable, Peter Vaughan. Unfortunately , the IPCC have made an error in copying your complaint and some pages are missing- these are pages 9,10 and 11 of the paperwork you provided to Chris McCoy at the IPCC during your meeting. I would be grateful if you could provide me with a copy of those pages.

Your complaints against Barbara Wilding will not be recorded because they are a repetition of complaints which were made some years ago and were dealt with by the then South Wales Police Authority. That matter is therefore closed and I cannot consider or take any further action in respect of those complaints.

You set out your complaint against Peter Vaughan is as follows: “The current Chief Constable has caused the sudden release of a purported true copy of my interview tape taken while I was in custody in Fairwater Police Station, Cardiff”.

In order to give proper and objective consideration to your complaint I need to make sure that I understand it.  I am therefore writing to you to seek clarification in respect of this aspect of your complaint.  Please can you answer the following three questions :

• Please explain what evidence there is to show that the Chief Constable personally committed the action you allege?
• Please will you provide me with that evidence ?
• Please can you explain what has caused you to think that the Chief Constable released your interview tape?

I would be grateful for any further information and/or evidence you can provide in respect of this complaint.  Any information you provide will be carefully considered and I will give you a response as soon as possible.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours,

Alun Michael

From …………….

Rt. Hon. Alun Michael

Labour and Co-operative

The Police & Crime Commissioner for South Wales