A PANEL chosen to scrutinise Thames Valley Police will not comment on claims that the force’s elected head abused his position, in case it jeopardises any future investigations into his conduct.

Nigel Chapman, an Oxford City Councillor who sits on the police and crime panel, said Anthony Stansfeld had been ‘unwise’ when he sent an email on his professional work account to warn a man of police action in a bid to help a billionaire’s ex-wife find his missing millions.

The police and crime commissioner sent a warning email on behalf of Michelle Young to a man called Michael Murrin, who it is claimed is refusing to give her computer hard drives relating to her former husband Scot Young’s business, as reported by the Oxford Mail earlier this week.

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

The case seemingly has nothing to do with Thames Valley and no one involved lives in the area, but Mr Stansfeld previously defended getting involved, saying it was because ‘police do not investigate fraud well’ and he wanted to look into the matter himself.

The police and crime panel met yesterday in Aylesbury, made up of 18 councillors from Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire who meet to challenge the decisions made by the elected head Mr Stansfeld – who has control over police budgets – as well as his deputy and the head of TVP John Campbell.

There is also a chance for members of the public and those on the board to ask questions to the heads.

During that time, Mr Chapman held up a copy of Thursday’s front page and said: “I would like to raise the front page story of the Oxford Mail and Oxford Times about an accusation that our esteemed police and crime commissioner was abusing his position.”

He later added: “While I know he [Mr Stansfeld] has a great passion for investigating fraud, I think it is unwise to get involved given his role as police and crime commissioner.”

READ ALSO: Thames Valley Police Federation hit-out at unfair pay

Mr Stansfeld hit back at the story, claiming it was inaccurate, saying: “I don’t think you’ve got it quite right.”

He then proceeded to read a letter to the panel which he sent to this newspaper after the original story broke.

In his letter, which was published in full on Thursday’s letters page, Mr Stansfeld admitted he does know Ms Young but not on a ‘personal basis’, having previously denied knowing her.

Oxford Mail:

Anthony Stansfeld on a panel with Michelle Young

He also claims that ‘properties worth several million pounds’ are being ‘disputed’ as part of an investigation into the matter which is ongoing in Oxfordshire.

However, Thames Valley Police said they had no records of an investigation when asked, and Ms Young, her spokesperson and Mr Murrin have all said their case is being dealt with by another police force entirely.

The police and crime panel chairman Kieron Mallon shut down the topic at the meeting insisting that anymore scrutiny could ‘jeopardise’ any future investigation or complaints against Mr Stansfeld.

After Mr Stansfeld sent his letter to the Mail, claiming the first story was inaccurate we replied with a series of questions - which he failed to mention before the panel.

We asked him if the chief constable knew of his involvement in the case and approved of it.

We asked him if the case linked to Thames Valley, why he hadn’t reported it to the force himself.

We also asked him why his involvement in the case was any different to that of former Bicester police officer Paul Froggatt, who was dismissed by the force in the summer after investigating something on behalf of a friend.

He responded to the final question, claiming it was ‘no comparison’ because he did not ‘access police case files’.

READ MORE ABOUT THAT CASE HERE

Instead, he said, he relies on the alleged victim’s word when she said Mr Murrin would not hand over her hard drives, before sending him an email suggesting he give them back to Ms Young.

Mr Murrin later said the tone of the email was an attempt to ‘intimidate’ him, and said Mr Stansfeld becoming personally involved was ‘entirely inappropriate’.

Mr Stansfeld also expressed disappointment that the Mail had run the initial story, and explained that he had been fully supported by ‘most of the press’ like ‘The Times, Financial Times and the Daily Mail’.

When the Oxford Mail first spoke to the PCC he threatened that, if the paper reported on the matter, he would refuse to co-operate with any future articles, saying: “I am not going to be open with you in the future if you run this story.”

Police and crime commissioners are voted in by members of the public and stand as candidates for political parties.

Mr Stansfeld was the first PCC to be elected for the Thames Valley in 2012, standing as a Conservative candidate.

To make a complaint about the PCC though the panel of the home office, it must be sent in writing to Mr Stansfeld’s office directly.