Watchdog admits statement over police officer was misleading

Feb 27 2008

THE Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has admitted it gave the Western Mail misleading information over a detective criticised in a report.

Acting Detective Inspector Gavin Lewis was one of two South Wales Police officers recommended for a written warning following a complaint by former police officer Lynn Powell.

All three worked on a reinvestigation of the 1988 murder of Cardiff prostitute Lynette White. The original investigation resulted in three men being wrongly convicted of the murder. Their convictions were later quashed and killer, Jeffrey Gafoor, was jailed.

During the reinvestigation, Ms Powell was wrongly accused of fiddling her expenses. An IPCC report concluded Mr Lewis and another officer, Acting Superintendent John Penhale, had made incorrect statements and should receive written warnings. A statement issued to the Western Mail by the IPCC quoted Commissioner John Crawley saying, “[Mr Lewis] is on sabbatical leave for a pronged period, agreed to by the force before the disciplinary outcome recommended by the IPCC was available, and no disciplinary action is to be taken.”

But yesterday Mr Crawley said, “The IPCC has clarified with South Wales Police that Acting Detective Inspector Gavin Lewis cannot be served a written warning while he remains on sabbatical leave, but the force has confirmed it will serve the written warning when he returns to work.”