West Midlands Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner nepotism claims denied
Staff working for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner have denied giving a job to someone because she is a friend of his deputy's daughter.
Olivia Everett was employed as a temporary research assistant in David Jamieson's Birmingham office (OPCC).
But it emerged she went to school with Alicia Mosquito, daughter of deputy police and crime commissioner (DPCC) Yvonne Mosquito.
Staff at Mr Jamieson's office said it was not necessary for any interest to be declared by Ms Mosquito because the deputy commissioner had not met Miss Everett until she started her employment.
Richard Costello, spokesman for the Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "The appointment was made by the chief executive, not by anyone else.
"She went to the same school, as did hundreds of other people. We will not be ruling them out from employment with the PCC's office either. The DPCC had not met Olivia until she started working for the OPCC."
It is not the first time the OPCC's link with Ms Mosquito's daughter has been questioned.
She was on an unpaid internship for the Broad Street Business Improvement District (BID) when it applied for a £60,000 victim support contract. It was to help businesses who had been hit by crime. But the organisation then 'ceased to be a formal entity' before the money was handed over.
In a statement the OPCC's office said: "After finding out that the BID ceased to be a formal entity, the OPCC took firm steps. No money has been released at all. Any suggestion that the OPCC have acted improperly is completely and utterly untrue and incorrect.
"The DPCC notified the OPCC that her daughter had an unpaid internship when she began it on August 7.
"The DPCC had no involvement in the tendering process whatsoever. Professional staff administered the process and made a recommendation to the PCC. The DPCC played no part in the decision."
