MARTIN RICHARDS JUMPS SHIP

Brighton's Evening Argus newspaper is calling it Breaking News.

Chief Constable To Retire!

Shock horror, but is it more a case of jumping ship, knowing its heading for the rocks, than a simple story of retirement?

With six years at the helm tucked under his belt, Martin Richards stressed it was a hard decision to make by saying, “This is not a decision I have taken lightly.”

Mr Richards added that he had always intended to retire after 30 years of service "as is usual", but felt it right to support the Police Authority in its final months and the newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner.

"It has been my good fortune to serve alongside excellent people and talented and committed partners who, together, have made a huge contribution towards consistently reducing crime in Sussex.

"I shall remember with affection and admiration a workforce that consistently demonstrates the highest qualities of compassion, courage, a sense of justice and, above all, an overwhelming desire to serve," he said.

Martin Richards on misconduct charges.

Having brought shame to his office by being investigated for misconduct in July 2012 by the IPCC, he's yet another Sussex Chief Constable responsible for a series of high-profile blunders documented on this website and elsewhere.

Cleared of any wrong doing by the IPCC who said 'Martin Richards has no case to answer,' his case further discredited the reputation of the IPCC and brought it into such disrepute that Keith Vaz has called for a Home Office Committee investigation into the IPCC and for it to be disbanded and replaced altogether.

The 'Remove Martin Richards as Chief Constable' 38 Degree petition called for “an outside Police Force to investigate corruption and gross misconduct inside Sussex Police Force.”

A complaint made against Arun District Council in 2002, that a paedophile ring was operating within the council offices. The case appears to have been interfered with by Martin Richards who appears to be friends with the ex-Chief Executive of the Council. When the same council then used false documents to bankrupt the author of the statement, Sussex Police failed to take any action. Instead it appears that they actively encouraged the bankruptcy court by writing at very specific hearings denying any ongoing investigation or at the very least minimising their involvement - leaving the defendant in this case looking as though he was either lying or attempting to delay the court proceedings. The judge in the matter eventually lost patience and granted the bankruptcy order. The man's £500,000 home was then sold for little over half price to the best friend of one of the original investigating officers. He was best man at the friends wedding.

It beggars belief that a statement about a paedophile ring running inside a local authority would not be investigated fully. It further beggars belief that when the council use false documents to bankrupt the man who made the complaint that the Police fail yet again in their duties to uphold the law and not see that the councils action as revenge or worst an attempt to silence any further allegations.

To name but a few of the injustices which Sussex Police have facilitated.

Failure to investigate Jimmy Savile after receiving complaints.
The assassination of James Ashley who was naked and unarmed in bed.
Failure to catch the killer of Billie Jo Jenkins.
Failure to convict the killer of Babes in the Woods, Nicola and Karen.
The on-going cover-up of murdered Katrina Taylor.
Failure to care for Gary Reynold's, who recently recieved a £3.8 million pay-off of tax-payers money to guarantee no liability is implicated by Sussex Police.
Lied about Alex Coughtrey attacking a police officer with a 7 inch knife, and in doing so ruined an innocent man's life.

Examples of Sussex Police incompetence is many. Read more at Sussex Police in the Dock.

Who is Martin Richards?

The Sussex Police page has this to say about him:

After graduating from Bristol University Martin joined Warwickshire Police in 1982, and served across all geographical areas in the force. His command positions included District Commander at Nuneaton, Head of Communications, Performance Review Manager and a short period as Head of CID. He served for two years in National Police Training as Head of Recruit Training Centre at Ryton-on-Dunsmore.
He achieved a Masters in Criminology at Cambridge University before being promoted to Assistant Chief Constable at Avon and Somerset Constabulary in 1998 where his key responsibilities were Personnel and Training, Criminal Justice and Communications. He was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable in 2002, taking on responsibility for Professional Standards, Corporate Development, Communications and Information Services.
Martin was appointed Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police in September 2004. During his time in this post he oversaw 'Optimus' a 12 month programme of modernisation and reform within the force. He was also the Chief Officer lead on collaboration for all five forces within the South West region.
Martin was appointed Chief Constable of Sussex Police in October 2007 and was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in HM The Queen's Birthday Honours in 2008.
He is the Chair of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) South East Region. Martin is married to Judith and has two sons and two stepsons.

Though according to The Captain Swing Journal, ‘He’s overpaid and overdue for the chop.’

The criticism of Martin Richards continues, ‘He’s a man that has not done a day’s proper policing work in his whole career. He started as a graduate recruit and went straight into senior positions with Warwickshire Police , within twelve years he became CC of Wiltshire and lucky old Sussex was next in line for his common purpose improvement by destruction method of running a Police service.’

Let's not forget the history of Sussex Chief Constables.

In 2001 Paul Whitehouse jumped ship rather than be pushed, by the then Home Secretary, David Blunkett, who ordered the Sussex Police Authority to sack him.

Tipped to be the next Metropolitan Police Chief, Paul Whitehouse's reputation was left in tatters after his cover-up of the shooting of James Ashley, where police officers fatally opened fire on an unarmed and naked man.

Next came Ken Jones. 

Who had a part to play in the murder cover-up of Katrina Taylor in 1996, as revealed in the David Joe Neilson Crime files. It's been alleged he's in the pocket of local Criminal Lord Mark Sulc.

Martin Richards became Sussex Chief Constable in 2007 and was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2008.

The Picture to the right is of Chief Constable Martin Richards receiving the Queen's Police Medal from the Prince of Wales.

Who's next?

Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne praised Mr Richards for "steering the force through difficult times" and dealing with some "significant financial challenges".
She said plans were being put in place to advertise for a new chief constable.

Will it be the deputy chief Constable Giles York?