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Met chief cleared over £15,000 expenses bill
Justin Davenport, Evening Standard11.04.08
The former anti-terrorism chief at the centre of an inquiry over allegations of lavish expense claims has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Andy Hayman quit as head of the Britain's counter-terrorist operation in December amid accusations surrounding his expenses and his relationship with a woman police watchdog official.
The Met assistant commissioner - who had led the fight against al Qaeda since 2005 - was facing questions over more than £15,000 worth of claims for drinks, restaurants, hotels and foreign travel.
He resigned when there were further accusations of "inappropriate conduct" with a civil servant working for the Independent Police Complaints Commission while it was compiling a report into the Stockwell Tube shooting.
The Metropolitan Police Authority called in a chief constable from an outside force to carry out an inquiry into the expenses allegations. Gwent chief constable Mike Tonge has ruled there should be no action against the senior officer after a three-month inquiry.
He said that there was insufficient evidence to bring misconduct charges and that it was not in the public interest.
However, the Standard can reveal his report recommends a review of all procedures surrounding hospitality claims by senior officers. One MPA insider said there was concern among members over some of Mr Hayman's claims and the accountability surrounding officers' expenses.
Mr Hayman's early retirement led to claims that he had been the victim of an internal "dirty tricks campaign" at Scotland Yard.
Awarded a CBE last year for his outstanding work after the London bombings in July 2005 and for his role in rounding up the failed 21/7 bombing gang, he was praised on his retirement by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
He has been on leave since his resignation-and is due to formally retire within the next few weeks.
Mr Hayman, 48, rejected any claims of wrongdoing over his expense claims which were first raised by Yard auditors.
He faced further questions over trips abroad with one of his officers, Inspector Heidi Tubby, and then resigned when it emerged he had exchanged more than 400 phone calls and texts with the IPCC of f icial, Nikki Redmond.
At the time the IPCC was writing a report into the Met's handling of the Jean Charles de Menezes shooting in
2005. An MPA spokeswoman said: " Certain allegations against AC Hayman arose during work by the MPA internal auditors.
"They were referred to the IPCC and an investigation has been carried out by an independent chief constable, supervised by the IPCC.
"The report of the investigation has been received and considered by a special committee of MPA members. In the light of the report the MPA is not minded to take any further action but it has not yet discussed the matter with the IPCC."
The expenses claims covered bills from restaurants around Scotland Yard in St James's, including a branch of Pizza Express.
The receipts included restaurant bills for £326.25 and £387.06. About £10,000 of the spending is thought to have been on a credit card issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers.
He also faced insinuations about his relationship with Ms Tubby after they stayed at a Heathrow hotel the night before they were due to catch a 4am flight to the United States.
A TV programme claimed that he had exchanged more than 400 texts and phone calls with Ms Redmond, 36, an official at the IPCC at the time it was preparing a report on Stockwell.
The IPCC said that Ms Redmond did not have access to information in the report and the calls were believed to be of a personal nature.
Reader views (7)
Yet again the Establishment looks after its own, after another greedy snout is caught helping itself in the trough of public money. He doesn't sound like a particularly "fine man" to me. Just another greedy public servant who was caught out, but who was "investigated" by his chums.
- Neil, Gloucestershire, England.
Yeah Steve you are in the minority...
Maybe you forget that it was Andy Hayman that "forgot" to inform Ian Blair, until the next day, that police had shot an innocent man - Jean Charles de Menezes.
- Nick, London, UK
"He [Tonge] said that there was insufficient evidence to bring misconduct charges and that it was not in the public interest."
So which is it? "Insufficient evidence" or "not in the public interest"? Surely the "not in the public interest" angle would only come into play if there was sufficient evidence for a prosecution?
- Bob Young, Hull, England
I'm in the minority, but I for one am glad Mr Hayman has been cleared. He is a fine man and I wish him luck in what he moves on to do in the future.
- Steve, London
Policeman investigates policeman and finds nothing wrong - surprised?
- Paul, London
Enough is enough. When will the police remember who pays their wages. They've taken us for mugs yet again. This man should have been sacked and he should never have been allowed his pension. And another thing... the 400 texts and phone calls of a personal nature were all made in his own personal time were they? I think not.
- Olivia, London, England
Why is this officer still on the payroll (on 'gardening leave' at home)- no doubt increasing the value of his final salary pension - when his post has been advertised and filled by another officer, i.e. the former Chief Constable of Surrey? Why are taxpayers funding his salary when he isn't actually doing anything?
- David, Dorking, Surrey, UK
