My duty to solve problems - suspended police chief

Britain's suspended Humberside Chief Constable David Westwood said today he still believed he was the right man to put right his force’s failings.

Mr Westwood, who was suspended on the orders of British Home Secretary David Blunkett earlier this month following criticism in the Bichard Report, said he had no regrets about taking personal responsibility for what went wrong.

He told the Hull Daily Mail: “After what has happened, I still honestly and firmly believe I should take responsibility for what went wrong and responsibility for putting it right.

“I was and am responsible for the force and it was my duty to put it right. I felt that very strongly and still do.”

Mr Westwood refused to resign after Sir Michael Bichard’s report into how Soham killer Ian Huntley managed to secure a job as a school caretaker criticised Humberside Police for wiping records of a series of sex allegations made against him in the 1990s.

Mr Blunkett ordered the the Humberside Police Authority to suspend the chief constable but it initially refused, asking the Home Secretary to reconsider his decision.

But the authority was forced to reconsider its stance after a High Court judge supported Mr Blunkett’s right to make the order.

Speaking at his home in Hull, devout Christian Mr Westwood told the newspaper that he had no regrets about taking responsibility for what went wrong, despite not being in charge at the time the errors were made.

He reiterated his belief that he was the best placed person to carry through reforms to his force which are already under way.

“I have no regrets,” he said. “It was my choice to take responsibility from the start. It was the right choice.”

Mr Westwood added: ““I will never do anything for an easy life if I believe it to be wrong.”

The chief constble said he could not answer specific questions about his suspension or his future for legal reasons.

But he did say recent events had not dampened his enthusiasm for the job.

“I found that, as a police officer for 37 years, serving the public in this way has been an enormous privilege,” he said.

“I have no regrets about choosing a career in the force. It was the right career for me.”

Asked about suggestions he has suffered sleeplesss nights and even taken to drink to cope, he joked: “Given half the chance …”

Mr Westwood said: “The support I have had has been overwhelming.

“I’m going to have difficulty thanking each of them personally because there are so many of them.”

One card he received recently read: “Can’t imagine how you must feel about this tragedy. I’m sure your faith will help you through. God bless.”

Mr Westwood said: “That is the overwhelming sentiment that is coming through.”

Mr Blunkett is now considering a report submitted by Humberside Police Authority detailing why it believes Mr Westwood should remain Chief Constable.

The Home Secretary has the power to eventually require him to resign or retire.