Michael Mates investigated over Gypsy comment in PCC election statement
Hampshire police refer two complaints alleging use of racist language by
candidate to neighbouring force for investigation.
The former Conservative minister Michael Mates, one of the lead contenders to
become the first police and crime commissioner in Hampshire, is being
investigated after the police force over which he hopes to preside received
complaints alleging he used racist language in his
election statement.
The Independent revealed that the 78-year-old former Northern Ireland
minister had been accused of breaching equality laws by referring to "problems
created by Gypsies and Travellers" on the Home Office website, Choosemypcc,
set up to help voters choose which candidate they favoured.
Hampshire police confirmed it had received two complaints about the use of
alleged racist language and had passed them for investigation to the Thames
Valley force to avoid any conflict of interest. Thames Valley police is already
investigating a complaint from one of Mates’s rivals alleging he broke election
rules on
residency requirements.
