Police row thrown out of court

An acrimonious row between the chief of Avon and Somerset Police and the newly-elected police commissioner has shown no sign of ending after Colin Port's case against Sue Mountstevens was thrown out by a High Court judge.

Chief constable Mr Port was taking legal action against Mrs Mountstevens, the force's first police and crime commissioner, demanding he be allowed to serve out six months' notice.

He also wanted the recruitment process to find his successor, due to begin today, to be halted.

But after hearing details of the first meeting between the two which turned into a "blazing row" and led Mr Port to announce he was leaving his job, Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart ruled Mrs Mountstevens had not broken any rules, and dismissed Mr Port's request to hear the case in full.

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Afterwards, the deposed chief constable declared he was not giving up easily, said he had lost the case on a "technicality" and was now considering an appeal.

A spokesman for Mrs Mountstevens said: "The High Court has confirmed that the police and crime commissioner's decisions were lawful in every respect.

"The Judge rejected Mr Port's complaints in law, found that they were not even arguable and dismissed the case. Costs were awarded against Mr Port."