COPS have dropped a probe into a Cabinet Minister accused of racism for seeking views on a planned traveller site.
Welsh Secretary David TC Davies faced an investigation from Gwent Police for a leaflet he sent to constituents asking: “Would you like to see a traveller site next to your house?”
Welsh Secretary David TC Davies has had a case dropped against him
The leaflet sent out by Mr Davies
The force launched a review into whether it was a non-crime hate incident following a deluge of complaints from charities but are taking no further action.
Defiant Mr Davies said today: “Criticising a lack of wide public consultation to an important issue and seeking views from my constituents is not a crime, and I’m pleased that Gwent Police agree.
“I make no apologies for doing that.”
The flyer – titled Gypsy and Traveller Site Coming To Your Area Soon! – was distributed to voters in the Tory’s Monmouth seat.
Mr Davies insisted he wanted a proper consultation on the Labour-planned site and was not casting judgement on the traveller community.
Announcing the case had been dropped, Chief Superintendent Carl Williams told the Telegraph: “Officers have spoken to several people from the gipsy and traveller and settled communities before seeking advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on whether the leaflet’s contents constituted any offences.
“Any allegation of discrimination is taken extremely seriously and following this review, we will not be taking any further action.”
Recently Home Secretary Suella Braverman ordered police chiefs to take a “common sense approach” to policing.
