Stockton South MP James Wharton says it sets a 'worrying precedent' for under-fire police staff to resign to avoid punishment
A chief inspector under investigation after his son was caged for sex offences will keep his pension after he quit the force before his misconduct probe was completed.
Cleveland Police says that Chief Inspector Mick Williams will keep his pension due to strict Home Office rules which say that only those convicted for very specific types of crimes will be made to forfeit.
But Conservative MP James Wharton believes that the case sets “a worrying precedent” for under-fire police staff to resign to avoid punishment.
Chief Insp Williams was initially arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in November last year.
His son Darryl Williams, 19, was sent to a young offenders’ institution for two years and nine months for a string of offences in April.
A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “Strict legislation governs the forfeiture of police pensions and the circumstances in which it can be considered.
“The officer has to be convicted for very specific types of criminal offences in connection with their police service. Applications are considered by the Home Secretary.”
But Mr Wharton said: “What is becoming clear is that police officers are resigning before disciplinary investigations are completed and this is a way of avoiding censure.
“There is little chance of any further punishment, whatever that may be, and it also stops details of what has taken place being made public.
“I am not calling for this person’s pension to be forfeited because we don’t know the details but it is a worrying precedent when police officers - not just in Cleveland but across the country - are resigning before probes are even complete.
“It will raise concerns that justice is not being done.”
Last month it was confirmed the officer would not face any criminal charges but at that stage Cleveland Police said he was still facing an internal disciplinary investigation.
He has now been barred from working again for the police after being put on the College of Policing’s disapproved register.
Chief Insp Williams was one of three people arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
He had been suspended from duty since November until his resignation was tendered on May 29.
The two other people arrested, a 42-year-old man and 45-year-old woman, will also face no further action after a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Darryl Williams, of Windsor Road, Redcar, pleaded guilty in March to offences of sexual assault, sexual activity with a child and sexual activity in the presence of a child.
Stockton South MP Mr Wharton called for a review of police pension regulations after it was revealed that rapist former police officer Wayne Scott could still draw his pension because the rape and sexual offences he admitted to were committed when he was off duty.
Scott was never taken to court for the on-duty offence for which was sacked from Cleveland Police in 2012 - sexually assaulting a woman in a police van - so the force was unable to strip him of his pension.
Mr Wharton said he didn’t think the rules were going to be changed but that Cleveland Police still has “serious problems” to deal with.
He said: “I am currently dealing with cases involving Cleveland Police as an MP which are giving me serious concern. While there may have been some improvements, a lot more needs to be done to reassure the public.
“The hard working local police officers have been let down by senior management.”
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