A Conservative councillor will be Cumbria’s first ever deputy police and crime commissioner amid criticisms it represents “jobs for the boys”.
Mike Johnson, the current leader of Tory-run Allerdale Borough Council which will be abolished on April 1, was hand picked for the new role by Cumbria’s police and crime commissioner Peter McCall, a fellow Conservative, and then unanimously supported by a cross-party panel of councillors.
But the appointment was criticised by Keswick Labour councillor, Markus Campbell-Savours, while the TaxPayers’ Alliance said this week: “Taxpayers want police forces to focus funding on bobbies on the beat, not on pay for deputy police and crime commissioners.”
The appointment was discussed in Kendal by a cross-party panel of councillors who are charged with holding Mr McCall to account. In a letter confirming the appointment, police and crime panel chairman councillor Bill McEwan, wrote that on the evidence they had received and heard, Mr Johnson was right for the role.
Mr McEwan, a Labour councillor in Barrow, congratulated Mr Johnson on the part-time appointment, which involves being paid £23,000-a-year for three days work a week. Mr McCall is permitted to make political appointments and did not have to put the position out to open recruitment.
The former Army colonel, whose total remuneration, including pension, totalled £78,000 in 2021/22, has taken on additional responsibilities for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, as part of the reorganisation of local Government in Cumbria.
He had made the case that a deputy police and crime commissioner was now necessary, having done the job since in 2016.
Mr Campbell-Savours said the criteria for deputies elsewhere had specified that they had relevant police service experience, or a relevant criminal justice background.
This week he said: “It’s disappointing but in this case the criteria was based only on soft skills which means it can be a blatant political appointment.
Mr Johnson, the MD of a Workington-based family engineering firm, has served as a member of the police and crime panel representing Allerdale.
Mr McCall had argued that he had the required skills and experience to be deputy.
The Conservative-led borough council Mr Johnson leads will disappear in eight weeks as the new Cumberland Council comes in.
However, the new unitary authority will be Labour-led after winning the elections last May – consigning Mr Johnson into an opposition role.
Mr McCall pointed out that the Home Office had “strongly recommended” and intended to mandate that all PCCs should appoint deputies.
“Many have done for several years but I have hitherto been reluctant to comply with the direction in order to minimise my office costs,” said Mr McCall.
“However, local government reform has resulted in the governance of the Fire and Rescue Service transferring from Cumbria County Council to the Office of the PCC in April this year and inevitably this will involve significant additional work, particularly during the transition phase. The public will be aware that His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) report published last week highlighted some significant areas of performance and challenges which must be addressed and I will be dealing with these urgently from 1st April.
“In order to assist with this additional work I am pleased to have recruited Mike Johnson on a part time basis on a one year contract commencing 1 April, which will see us through the transition period. Mike is a well-known local councillor, has led Allerdale Council, runs his own business and is therefore well qualified and experienced in governance and managing budgets, most importantly he understands the need to work with the Fire Service and the Police to deliver first class service to the public.”
