Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph gathering investigation set to rumble on

WARRINGTON Borough Council’s ongoing complaint into the role police played at an unofficial gathering at Warrington Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday is set to rumble on.

While the Office of Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner (OPPC) David Keane, who is also a member of the controlling Labour group of the borough council, has been asked to investigate the findings of Police review, the complaint has still not been received, with the council having up to 28 days to review the findings and submit their complaint.
A spokesperson for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire said: “The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) is aware of a complaint submitted to Cheshire Constabulary from Warrington Borough Council in regards to this matter but to date, the OPCC has not received an application for review in relation to this complaint.
“In line with current legislation and the statutory complaints process, the Police and Crime Commissioner has no statutory responsibility, or ability, to investigate complaints against Cheshire Constabulary, the conduct of any officer (below the rank of Chief Constable) or any member of the public.
“As of 1 February 2020, OPCC officers can review the outcome of a complaint to determine whether the outcome was reasonable and proportionate, but only upon receipt of a valid application for review and where it is deemed the relevant review body. However, this review process cannot reinvestigate the complaint.”
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We have received a report from the police following our complaint, which required them to undertake a review of an unofficial pre-planned gathering at the Cenotaph while national coronavirus restrictions, regulations, and guidance for Remembrance Sunday were in place.
“We cannot reconcile the content of the report in relation to the evidence presented and we have 28 days from receiving the report to review the findings internally. We will be making an application for a further review to be undertaken by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner as we do not agree with the findings of the review, and the acceptability of the police’s role on the day.”
Police were asked to investigate after concerns were raised by the borough council about the management and organisation of the large gathering of an estimated 200 people at the unofficial Remembrance Sunday gathering at the Cenotaph which went ahead despite national restrictions.
As a result of the concerns, Warrington Borough Council contacted Cheshire Police to investigate the gathering, to ascertain how the event was organised without prior notice and to identify what COVID-secure measures were in place as required by the regulations.
As well as investigating the gathering, it is understood the investigation involved the Police being investigated for being present at the event by the Professional Standards Department.