Independent audit for PCC's expenses

That was the outcome of a meeting of the Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel, which considered an official complaint about Anthony Stansfeld’s conduct.
Last week Mr Stansfeld came out fighting, accusing critics of a political smear campaign over claims he established a “sham” office in Hungerford to boost his expenses.
Conservative Mr Stansfeld, a district councillor for Kintbury who was elected to the £85,000 per year Thames Valley PCC role last November, also defended his decision to employ an extra assistant at nearly £20,000 per year to chauffeur him to meetings, take notes and help organise his day.
At the panel meeting on Friday Mr Stansfeld repeated his assertions that he had done nothing wrong and represented good value for money.
West Berkshire panel member-elect Quentin Webb (Con, Bucklebury), who attended the meeting in an unofficial capacity, said afterwards: “It was agreed that, since a formal complaint had been received, to ask the complaints board to investigate and to come up with a report.”
The complaints sub committee has ordered an independent audit and is expected to report back with its findings in July.
Beofre the meeting Mr Stansfeld was confronted by arch critic, Buckingham town councillor Jon Harvey, dressed as a chaffeur.
And Labour’s European Parliamentary Candidate for South East England, John Howarth, has called on Home Secretary Theresa May to intervene in the case.
Mr Howarth said, “Whether or not the Home Secretary has a legal power is unimportant – she certainly has influence and she should use it. Not to do so will be seen as a party political cover up.
“There is a clear public interest in having Mr Stansfeld, expenses claims properly investigated. If we are to have this system of Police Commissioners it is vital that the public have confidence in their integrity. “
Mr Stansfeld said last week: “I’ve an absolute, cast iron reason for having the car and someone to drive me on a part-time basis. And I simply can’t operate without having an office nearby.”