Police watchdog rules out investigation into ex-council leader

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has announced that it will not be investigating an allegation of misconduct in public office made against the former leader of a London borough.

The IPCC had received a referral from the Greater London Authority (GLA) police and crime panel following a complaint relating to Stephen Greenhalgh’s conduct while leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council. Greenhalgh is now Deputy Mayor of London for Police and Crime.

The complaint arose out of accounts of residents whose homes faced demolition as a result of the Earls Court regeneration scheme.

The allegation was that council officials offered priority housing – via a claimed ‘early movers’ or VIP list – to residents in exchange for their support for regeneration.

It was suggested that while leader of the council at the material time Greenhalgh was responsible for the alleged scheme and conspired with council officials to commit the offence of misconduct in public office. 

The IPCC said it had undertaken an assessment of the complaint in order to establish whether it was necessary to conduct a criminal investigation into the former leader.

The watchdog explained that this assessment involved consideration of material submitted by the complainant, examination of an investigation report compiled by Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s auditors, consultation with officers from the Metropolitan Police Service who assessed criminal allegations made against the council officials, obtaining specialist legal advice and enquiries with one resident who was said to have information which referred directly to Greenhalgh.

The commission said: “The IPCC has now concluded that assessment, and in the absence of any evidence to indicate that Mr Greenhalgh may have committed a criminal offence, the IPCC will not be investigating the complaint. The complaint has been referred back to the police and crime panel for its consideration.”

The IPCC’s announcement was welcomed by Hammersmith & Fulham’s current Leader, Cllr Nicholas Botterill.

He said: “No homes have been built, let alone been allocated, and nobody has received preferential treatment. As is normal on a regeneration scheme of this size, the council talked to all affected residents about their housing needs and requirements during a two-year consultation. There is absolutely no evidence that anyone was promised anything in return for supporting the regeneration scheme.

"The reality is that if residents are eventually moved it will happen in accordance with a local lettings plan, which will be agreed by a public committee in the normal way, that will take into account the needs and preferences of all residents.”