Crime Commissioner won't say how much Chief's advisor is being paid

The Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner declined to disclose the payment rate for former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Hogan-Howe, citing the protection of commercial interests under freedom of information laws. This decision to withhold financial details regarding his consultancy contract creates a transparency deficit, demonstrating how public bodies can leverage commercial exemptions to avoid accountability for expenditure. It highlights the tension between protecting private sector negotiations and the public’s right to know how taxpayer money is utilized for high-level strategic advice during leadership vacuums. This opacity is particularly significant given Hogan-Howe’s controversial history, including his handling of the discredited Operation Midland investigation. The refusal to reveal the cost of his services raises ethical questions about the value and necessity of hiring figures with such baggage for crisis management. By shielding the financial terms, the authority prevents public scrutiny of whether the substantial resources invested in his advisory role were justified, especially when his previous leadership is associated with significant policing failures. For the open data community, this case serves as a critical warning about the broad application of commercial interest exemptions. It illustrates how these clauses can be used to restrict access to fundamental information, potentially hindering efforts to audit public spending effectively. Understanding the limits of these exemptions is essential for advocates seeking to ensure that transparency remains robust, even when dealing with high-profile contracts that involve significant public trust and resources.

Source: plymouthherald.co.uk
Published on 2024-10-12

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