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Police chief challenges suspension
Lincolnshire Police's Temporary Chief Constable Neil Rhodes has gone to the High Court to challenge the decision by the county's Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick to suspend him earlier this year.
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Video: Lincolnshire Chief Constable - suspension overturned
For a month the county's temporary Chief Constable Neil Rhodes has been suspended on the orders of his new boss - the county's Police and Crime Commissioner.
But today a judge described Alan Hardwick's decision as irrational and perverse - quashed the suspension and allowed the police chief to return to work.
Lincoln Crime Commissioner: concern over legal challenges
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Rhodes decision is a "reality check" for PCCs
Responding to today’s High Court Decision in Manchester to quash the suspension of Neil Rhodes, Lincoln MP Karl McCartney said:
Police chief wins right to return to work
The temporary Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police has today won the right to return to work after a High Court judge ruled he should not have been suspended for the way he handled a race discrimination claim.
Neil Rhodes was suspended by the county's Police and Crime Commissioner, Alan Hardwick, in February. However, a High Court judge in Manchester today ruled the decision was "irrational and perverse" and quashed Mr Rhodes' suspension .
It is claimed he helped a senior Muslim lawyer from another force use his ethnicity to pursue damages following his dismissal. Mr Rhodes strenuously denied any wrong-doing and asked a judge at the High Court in Manchester to grant a judicial review so he could get it quashed.
Police chief suspension is quashed
The suspension of Lincolnshire's Chief Constable Neil Rhodes has been quashed. A judge at the High Court in Manchester has called Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick's shock decision to suspend Mr Rhodes two months ago as "irrational and "perverse."
Lincolnshire's Chief Constable: court hearing over suspension
Lincolnshire's Temporary Chief Constable has gone to court to fight the decision to suspend him earlier this year. Neil Rhodes was removed from his job by the county's Police and Crime Commissioner following allegations that, until today, had not been publicly discussed.
But Mr Rhodes has spent the day trying to convince a High Court judge to overturn his suspension.
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Decision on Chief Constable's suspension due tomorrow
The High Court in Manchester has finished hearing evidence in the claim by Lincolnshire's Chief Constable for a judicial review into the decision for him to be suspended earlier this year. Neil Rhodes was removed from his post by the Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick in February.
Judge Justice Stuart-Smith said the dispute boiled down to "a case of integrity" and adjourned the hearing until tomorrow morning when he plans to give his verdict.
Police and Crime Commissioner: 'Suspension was entirely rational'
The legal team representing Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has told a court in Manchester it was "entirely rational" to suspend the Chief Constable Neil Rhodes while the allegations against him were being investigated.
Chief Constable's suspension followed 'serious allegations'
The High Court has been told how Lincolnshire's temporary Chief Constable was suspended after he "friended" West Yorkshire Police lawyer Afzal Hussain, who was dismissed from the force after 17 years and was suing his former employer.
The court heard that Neil Rhodes then became involved in the proceedings. He was suspended by Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick following a letter from Fraser Sampson, the solicitor to the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire in which he stated:
But Mr Rhodes legal team argued in court that the Chief Constable acted in good faith by trying to get the parties involved around the table saying:
Lincolnshire's Chief Constable challenges suspension in court
Lincolnshire's Temporary Chief Constable has gone to court to argue that his suspension by the county's Police and Crime Commissioner is unlawful. Neil Rhodes was removed from his post in February though it is only today that the full details behind that suspension have been made public.
It is claimed Neil Rhodes helped a Muslim lawyer from West Yorkshire Police to use his ethnicity to pursue damages following his dismissal. Mr Rhodes denies any wrong-doing saying his suspension is "unlawful" and he has today asked a High Court judge to grant a judicial review to get it quashed.