Following the emergence of significant new information, an investigation was launched by Durham Constabulary into a gathering at the Miners’ Hall, in Redhills, Durham on 30th April 2021.
That investigation has now concluded.
A substantial amount of documentary and witness evidence was obtained which identified the 17 participants and their activities during that gathering.
Following the application of the evidential Full Code Test, it has been concluded that there is no case to answer for a contravention of the regulations, due to the application of an exception, namely reasonably necessary work.
Accordingly, Durham Constabulary will not be issuing any fixed penalty notices in respect of the gathering and no further action will be taken.
The investigation has been thorough, detailed and proportionate.
The final evidence supplied by participants from the local constituency was returned to Durham Police on 5th July and analysed by investigators against all the evidence before the investigation was concluded on 8th July 2022.
In line with established national policing guidelines, we will not name or otherwise identify any of those present at the gathering, all of whom have been informed of the investigation outcome by their legal representatives.
Suck on that, Richard Holden (Tory MP for North West Durham) …
OK lighten up. I’m just saying millions broke the law. Was it the law or just some health & efficiency advice. OK, I know it was some kind of temporary special law enforcement. Whilst you guys were sitting at home, there were millions doing proper jobs like running the country, business & commerce. And yes, having a drink.
Anything partygate or gate of any kind is irrelevant and yawn-inducing.
I don’t know - but there was a Tory attempt to smear her reputation by suggesting she may have been at the Miners Hall in Durham during the “Beergate” event.
She confirmed that neither she, her deputy or any of her team were there.
Then Nadine Dorries tried to suggest that because Starmer had endorsed Allen as the PCC, the Durham Constabulary should not investigate Beergate for fear she may put pressure on the Durham Chief Constable to exonerate Starmer.
Bearing in mind that PCCs are politically elected positions, it is quite usual for a Party Leader or Minister to endorse and be photographed with their own Party PCC Candidate, both Tory and Labour Ministers have endorsed PCCs from their own party, so nothing out of the ordinary there.
When Dorries suggested some other police force should investigate instead, I wonder if she was thinking it should be handed over to a police force overseen by a Tory PCC , so they could lean on the investigation team instead!
I don’t know why you think it’s strange that the Police Commissioner was not attending a meeting organising a by-election campaign for a Parliamentary Seat.
I would have thought it strange if she had been there, to be honest.
Do other Police Crime Commissioners get involved in campaigning for candidates standing in Parliamentary elections?
What reason would she have for being there?
I doubt it!
As I said, all the Police and Crime Commissioner roles are politically elected posts.
Joy Allen stood for election as the Labour candidate and was elected.
The Chief Constable of a police force is accountable to the PCC but the PCC does not run the Constabulary or make decisions on police investigations - the Chief Constable does that and that is not a political appointment.
The Tories have already tried to smear this lady’s reputation by suggesting she was involved in Beergate - unless there is any reason to think she was there, then these snide comments are just mud-slinging for the sake of it.
