The Ministry of Justice has said it is not launching a formal investigation into Northumbria police and crime commissioner, Vera Baird QC, after she set up an organisation and awarded it £500,000 of taxpayers' money.
Baird stands accused by Home Affairs Committee chair Keith Vaz and others of breaching conflict-of-interest rules to award money to her own newly-formed organisation, Victims First, which has applied for charitable status.
A spokeswoman from the Ministry of Justice told Civil Society News it had “urgently” contacted Baird’s office to ensure she had “complied with requirements of the Victims Services Grant” but that it was currently sufficiently happy with the response it received.
“Essentially we have been talking to her office to reassure ourselves that everything is above board and at this stage there is no suggestion that anything isn’t fine. It seems that all the terms have been complied with," the spokeswoman said.
“She has reassured us that Victims First was created as a not-for-profit company and it’s with the Charity Commission now with the purpose of moving to a charitable status. She has reassured us that nobody involved will make any money so at the moment it all looks like it’s absolutely fine and above board.
“Ensuring public money is properly spent and that victims receive the support services they need is our priority. Should any new information be received we would of course look at it very carefully.”
Baird, a former Labour MP and solicitor general, was elected to the role of police and crime commissioner in 2012. She was able to allocate funds to the proposed charity following a government decision to change rules to allow police and crime commissioners to commission services for victims of crime.
Records filed by Victims First to Companies House last month reveal that Baird is a co-director along with Northumbria’s chief constable Sue Sim, who is currently at the centre of misconduct and bullying allegations.
New statement from Baird
Baird has denied any wrongdoing and yesterday afternoon released a statement, which said: "My decision to establish a charity in order to deliver the highest quality of victims' services to the public of Northumbria is the right model for our region.
"Victims First Northumbria has got off to a great start helping over 550 people in just over two weeks. I am confident that our excellent team of victim care coordinators will go from strength to strength with my strong support."
Keith Vaz wades in
But Keith Vaz, chair of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, said Baird’s actions were “totally inappropriate”.
“Northumbria Police appears to have developed its own soap opera,” he said. “It is totally inappropriate for a PCC to set up any organisation in which they have an interest of whatever kind using public money.
“The fact that the co-director is also the chief constable of Northumbria is wrong and they should cease these activities immediately. The Home Secretary should never have given these powers. The Labour Party is committed to abolishing PCCs.”
