A DEFIANT chief constable has refused to step down over a scathing report on his force’s dealings with Ian Huntley, the Soham murderer.

The Home Secretary ordered the immediate suspension of David Westwood, Chief Constable of Humberside, saying that he had lost public confidence. But Mr Westwood refused to bow to the pressure. He has consulted lawyers and won the support of other police chiefs — setting the scene for a protracted battle with David Blunkett.

Mr Westwood was still in post last night and said: “I remain chief constable”.

Mr Blunkett acted after the Bichard Report held Mr Westwood personally responsible for failing to identify Huntley as a sexual predator before he became school caretaker in Soham and murdered Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

The Home Secretary is using powers created by the Police Reform Act 2002, which allows him to order a police authority to call on a chief constable to retire, resign or be suspended in the interests of efficiency. The power has never been used before and the Home Office admitted last night that it was in “uncharted waters”.

Mr Westwood, who earns £115,000 a year and has been chief constable for more than five years, was advised to resign before the report was published but refused.

The Home Office is furious. “This is not a request, it is a requirement,” a source said.

The suspension can only take place after Humberside Police Authority meets. It has refused to convene immediately but a spokesman said it would do so this week. Colin Inglis, the chairman, is understood to be studying the Police Reform Act 2002 to establish if he is obliged to comply with Mr Blunkett’s demand. Mr Inglis said that the report had “to be considered properly”.

Senior police sources said that some chief constables may see Mr Blunkett’s action as the moment to challenge growing pressures from politicians. The Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association said that Mr Westwood should be allowed to implement reforms.

Chris Fox, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said that it was sad that the system demanded that “only one person is identified as being accountable and has to take personal responsibility”.

Sir Michael Bichard, author of the report, said that Mr Westwood had given disturbing evidence and made serious misjudgments. His report was unsparing in its criticism of Mr Westwood’s leadership.

Sir Michael said that there was no single occasion in eight separate dealings with Huntley over sexual offences where Humberside acted properly.

“Intelligence haemorrhaged in an alarming way,” he said. “The pattern of Huntley’s criminal behaviour was not identified remotely soon enough. I have concluded that there were very serious failings in the senior management of Humberside police and that the current chief constable must take personal as well as corporate responsibility.”

Mr Blunkett said the Bichard Report had identified “grave concerns” about Mr Westwood. He said: “The role of any chief constable has to be one in which the public have confidence. In the face of serious criticism, it is my responsibility as Home Secretary to question whether people in Humberside can continue to have that confidence.”

The findings were personally explained to the families of Holly and Jessica at private meetings last week. Neither family wished to comment.

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