THE Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner has landed himself in hot water and been urged to consider his position over comments he made about ‘murky backroom deals between Chief Constables and councillors.’

In a press release, Chris Salmon hit out at Labour election pledges to scrap the post of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and managed to seriously offend a former police authority member at the same time.

Mr Salmon described any move to scrap PCCs as “seeking to return police accountability to the murky world of back room deals between Chief Constables and local councillors.”

He went on: “Joint accountability means no accountability. That is what produced Rotherham and numerous other scandals.”

But Mr Salmon’s comments sparked anger from a former police authority councillor who is now vice chairman of the Dyfed-Powys Police & Crime Panel, which supports and reviews the work of the PCC.

Ceredigion councillor Alun Lloyd Jones said: “I never once witnessed any deals murky or otherwise, between any parties or officers and members, and take great offence at that suggestion. It is a slur on the reputation of members and police officers, it constitutes defamation of character, and is a slanderous statement to make.”

Cllr Lloyd Jones has demanded a retraction and a public apology.

He went on: “To state that a Police Authority - a statutory body, answerable to our electorate in all areas of Dyfed-Powys, advised by legal personnel, and always carrying out our duties within our terms of reference as per Standing Orders, is the reason for the tragedy of “ Rotherham and other scandals “ cannot and will not be tolerated.

“In light of his views and statement, I believe he should now look closely at his position, and consider the best way to limit the damage he has caused. I and the old Police Authority have been insulted by his views.”

Mr Lloyd Jones said he would now be seeking to bring the issue up as an urgent item at the next meeting of the Dyfed-Powys Police & Crime Panel.

But speaking to the Western Telegraph this week, Mr Salmon was unrepentant.

“Police Authorities, for all their dedicated members, were not able to hold the police properly to account. All political parties agreed on that," he said.

“Police and Crime Commissioners give the public a direct say in how their police are run.”

Mr Salmon said he had funded more officers, challenged the use of cautions and: “I have put an end to unjustified 7.5% bonus deals agreed between the old Police Authority and senior officers.”