AMs Question Internal Inquiry by the Civil Service

Following on from Miss Wagstaff's post on internal investigations carried out by the Welsh Assembly Government, it is now reported that two Assembly Members are questioning the decision of the senior staff of the Welsh Assembly Government to hold such an internal inquiry in the first place.

A court this week decided that Graham Evans, 54, of Penpedairheol, Caerphilly, had made lewd comments to a female colleague and assaulted her outside a pub toilet. He currently works as a highways chief for the Welsh Assembly Government and is also a respected soccer referee for more than 20 years.

The Western Mail reports:

Cardiff Central AM Jenny Randerson said the court’s decision threw up questions on how the Assembly had previously conducted its own investigation into the matter:

This must have put Mr Evans’ job in serious doubt. My concern is that this story was related to sexual harassment and that there had been an internal investigation carried out by the Assembly and no action had been taken. That must now be looked into. It was stated there had been no evidence, but there was obviously enough evidence in the court case. This must also call into question the Assembly human resources procedures.

The court case has also left Mr Evans’ role as a referee [football] in an awkward position as he takes charge of women’s games and also acts as referees’ instructor for up-and-coming officials.

Plaid Cymru South Wales Central AM Chris Franks said:

This case has potential for further legal and disciplinary actions. I haven’t had any prior knowledge of the issue. These matters are dealt with by senior civil servants and AMs tend not to be involved. Senior civil servants would have been responsible for investigating the initial complaint and we must hope the matter has been fully and properly investigated. Senior civil servants must insist that all staff are properly treated in their professional lives.

Judge Patrick Curran QC, who decided the case, found Mr Evans to be neither a “straightforward” or “careful” witness. And he pointed out the transport chief even tried to backtrack on his own statement which he originally swore was true.

The revelations pile yet more pressure on the troubled civil servant.

In his written judgement, Judge Curran said:

He was and still is an established team leader with a great deal to lose if he had been caught engaging in misconduct of the type alleged. He sought, on a detail of considerable importance to one aspect of his case, to depart from a statement made in a witness statement in respect of which he had signed a statement of truth.

The Welsh Assembly Government has since refused to comment on the case. The stance has been matched by the Football Association of Wales.