PCC to meet landlord wrongly branded paedophile as probe begins
A top level review of complaints to a police force by a man wrongly branded as a sex offender is under way.
Darren Price was given an apology from West Mercia Police after another man’s convictions were attributed to him.
Now Mr Price, of Bishops Castle, is due to attend a private meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner over the way his complaints about the situation were handled.
In a letter commissioner John Campion told to Mr Price that there was an ongoing review at the “highest level” and that his concerns were being taken “seriously”.
Mr Campion stated: “I do not have the power to record or investigate complaints, intervene or comment on live investigations and cannot amend or overturn force decisions.
"With that being said, I have sought assurance from the chief constable’s staff office as to how the on-going issues you have raised are being dealt with.
"I am pleased that you have received apologies from the force and the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the mishandling of your personal data and echo these sentiments.
“The staff office have advised that Legal Services are in the process of reviewing all your previous complaints to ensure you have received the appropriate outcomes.
“Due to the volume of recorded complaints and the complexity of the allegations made, this review is still ongoing.
"I would like to assure you that the chief constable’s staff office are requesting updates from Legal Services on a regular basis.
"The force will contact you with appropriate updates. My office will also monitor the progress of this work on your behalf.
“I hope this gives you some reassurance that the concerns you have raised are being taken seriously and are being reviewed at the highest level.”
Mr Campion is due to meet Mr Price later this month.
Mr Price, 49, said: “While I am pleased that I have been offered a meeting. I am disappointed that I have had to write to the HMICFRS in order to get one when my requests have been ignored prior to her intervention. I am not going for lip service.”
