FORMER Scotland Yard boss Lord Blair has accused MPs of "an uncomfortable element of grandstanding" as they grilled police officers over plebgate.
The ex-Metropolitan Police Commissioner has written in political magazine The House to say politicians risk appearing as "judges in their own cause" when scolding officers over their treatment of a fellow MP.
Police Federation representatives Inspector Ken MacKaill, Detective Sergeant Stuart Hinton and Sergeant Chris Jones appeared before the Home Affairs Select Committee last month after they were accused of giving misleading statements about a meeting with former chief whip Andrew Mitchell in October 2012. Mr Hinton and Mr Jones were hauled back before MPs this week, and given a public scolding for apparent inaccuracies.
Lord Blair said: "No-one comes out of it with honour enhanced, There was an uncomfortable element of grandstanding in the treatment by the Committee of junior officers, unaccustomed to the daunting atmosphere of a parliamentary inquiry. The question must have occurred to many as to whether this was the proper tribunal for an investigation into an actual police disciplinary case."
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