Mike Culverhouse
Encyclopedia
Mike Culverhouse was Chief Constable
of the Isle of Man Constabulary
from 1999 until his retirement on 31 December 2007. He took over as Chief Constable
following the retirement of Robin Oake
QPM
and was the first ever Chief Constable
of the Isle of Man
to be appointed who did not previously hold ACPO (i.e. Assistant
, Deputy
or full Chief Constable
rank), previously being a Chief Superintendent
in the Merseyside Police
.
Mr Culverhouse has been widely criticised for his tough stance on alleged corruption and internal discipline. As such he was taken to court by his former deputy
Neil Kinrade
over the Manx Bugging Scandal and other matters, and has been repeatedly criticised on the floor of Tynwald
by John Houghton MHK
, a strong Police
critic. Mr Culverhouse was the subject of up to 10 complaints by former and serving officers which were investigated by the Chief Constable
of Hampshire Constabulary
but no action was taken.
Mr Culverhouse was also controversial in his appointment of non-Manx
Senior Officers including Mike Langdon as Deputy
who took over as Chief Constable
.
While proclaiming in the local press that illegal bugging had been taking place (see the Bugging Scandal) it was decided that it was not then in the public interest to publish the results of the Cheshire police's investigation, which failed to substantiate any of the claims made. However in August 2006 the Interception of Communications Tribunal made an Order that found that warrants applied for by Culverhouse for telephone bugging were unlawful. Despite a strenuous appeal by Culverhouse and the Attorney General, John Cortlett, the Isle of Man Appeal Court found in favour of the Tribunal and upheld the Tribunal's Order. The evidence in the case raised concerns as to the procedures adopted by the Chief Constable, the Attorney General and the then Chief Minister in dealing with phone tapping. The victim of the bugging, ex-Inspector Simon Graley currently has an application before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in relation to the unlawful bugging of his telephone. A complaint against Culverhouse is being considered by the Police Complaints Commissioner as to his conduct in this matter.
In April 2008 the Interception Tribunal made a further ruling that warrants to tap the telephone of another police officer were unlawful. Despite this being the second such ruling the Isle of Man authorities remain silent. Two confidential reports have now been submitted to the Governor in Council, which is basically the Governor sitting in concert with the Council of Ministers. The head of the Council of Ministers is the Chief Minister. It was the then Chief Minister who signed the warrants in 2003. The legal adviser to the Council of Ministers is the Attorney General. It is the Attorney General who provides an independent safeguard within the interception legislation.
The matter of ex-Inspector Graley's application to the Strasbourg Court continues with the UK, as the contracting party to the convention, expected to respond to the Court by late July 2008. The matter is published on the Court's public website, at the following link: http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/view.asp?action=html&documentId=829289&portal=hbkm&source=externalbydocnumber&table=F69A27FD8FB86142BF01C1166DEA398649
Since that publication further papers have been submitted drawing the Court's attention to the findings of the Police Complaints Commissioner in the investigations into Mike Culverhouse. The Commissioner opined that Mike Culverhouse had not made sufficient enquiries or had sufficient information on which to base his application for the intercept warrants. In interview during the investigation Mr Culverhouse claimed that he had discussed the application for warrants against Mr Graley with the Attorney General personally. Mr Graley's argument before the Strasbourg Court is that the Attorney General should have no part to play with the investigators if he is to act as a safeguard for the potential target of a warrant, and that the legislation is not compatible with the convention.
The United Kingdom has now admitted that Mr Graley's Article 8 Rights were breached by the actions of the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man on the advice of the Isle of Man Attorney General. The Interceptions of Communications Tribunal on the Isle of Man found in favour of a second applicant,Toby Neale, a serving police officer, that a warrant to intercept his communications was unlawful, and the United Kingdom also admitted a similar breach there. Another retired police officer, Roger Thomson, applied to the Strasbourg Court in respect of his telephone calls being intercepted. All three, Mr Graley, Mr Neale and Mr Thompson have received cash settlements from the Isle of Man Government in respect of damages.
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of the Isle of Man Constabulary
Isle of Man Constabulary
The Isle of Man Constabulary is the organisation responsible for policing the Isle of Man, an island of 80,000 inhabitants situated equidistant from Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.-Structures and Deployment:...
from 1999 until his retirement on 31 December 2007. He took over as Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
following the retirement of Robin Oake
Robin Oake
Robin Oake QPM is the former Chief Constable of the Isle of Man Constabulary and prior to that Assistant Chief Constable in the Greater Manchester Police.He was Chief Constable of the Isle of Man from 1986 to 1999, when he was succeeded by Mike Culverhouse....
QPM
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
and was the first ever Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
to be appointed who did not previously hold ACPO (i.e. Assistant
Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant chief constable is the third highest rank in all British territorial police forces , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and...
, Deputy
Deputy Chief Constable
Deputy chief constable is the second highest rank in all territorial police forces in the United Kingdom , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Nuclear...
or full Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
rank), previously being a Chief Superintendent
Chief Superintendent
Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police forces organised on the British model.- United Kingdom :In the British police, a chief superintendent is senior to a superintendent and junior to an assistant chief constable .The highest rank below Chief Officer level, chief...
in the Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Merseyside in North West England. The force area is 647 square kilometres with a population of around 1.5 million...
.
Mr Culverhouse has been widely criticised for his tough stance on alleged corruption and internal discipline. As such he was taken to court by his former deputy
Deputy Chief Constable
Deputy chief constable is the second highest rank in all territorial police forces in the United Kingdom , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Nuclear...
Neil Kinrade
Neil Kinrade
Neil Kinrade was the former Deputy Chief Constable of the Isle of Man Constabulary. He is best known for his part in the "Manx Bugging Scandal" of the late 1990s and 2000s, his subsequent suspension from duty and his fight to clear his name, taking High Court action against among others, the Chief...
over the Manx Bugging Scandal and other matters, and has been repeatedly criticised on the floor of Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
by John Houghton MHK
Member of the House of Keys
Member of the House of Keys, or MHK is the title given to a person who has been elected into the House of Keys, the lower house of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man. There are twenty-four Members of the House of Keys. Elections are held every five years; the last election took place in...
, a strong Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
critic. Mr Culverhouse was the subject of up to 10 complaints by former and serving officers which were investigated by the Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.The force area includes the cities of Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth...
but no action was taken.
Mr Culverhouse was also controversial in his appointment of non-Manx
Manx people
The Manx are an ethnic group coming from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea in northern Europe. They are often described as a Celtic people, though they have had a mixed background including Norse and English influences....
Senior Officers including Mike Langdon as Deputy
Deputy Chief Constable
Deputy chief constable is the second highest rank in all territorial police forces in the United Kingdom , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Nuclear...
who took over as Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
.
While proclaiming in the local press that illegal bugging had been taking place (see the Bugging Scandal) it was decided that it was not then in the public interest to publish the results of the Cheshire police's investigation, which failed to substantiate any of the claims made. However in August 2006 the Interception of Communications Tribunal made an Order that found that warrants applied for by Culverhouse for telephone bugging were unlawful. Despite a strenuous appeal by Culverhouse and the Attorney General, John Cortlett, the Isle of Man Appeal Court found in favour of the Tribunal and upheld the Tribunal's Order. The evidence in the case raised concerns as to the procedures adopted by the Chief Constable, the Attorney General and the then Chief Minister in dealing with phone tapping. The victim of the bugging, ex-Inspector Simon Graley currently has an application before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in relation to the unlawful bugging of his telephone. A complaint against Culverhouse is being considered by the Police Complaints Commissioner as to his conduct in this matter.
In April 2008 the Interception Tribunal made a further ruling that warrants to tap the telephone of another police officer were unlawful. Despite this being the second such ruling the Isle of Man authorities remain silent. Two confidential reports have now been submitted to the Governor in Council, which is basically the Governor sitting in concert with the Council of Ministers. The head of the Council of Ministers is the Chief Minister. It was the then Chief Minister who signed the warrants in 2003. The legal adviser to the Council of Ministers is the Attorney General. It is the Attorney General who provides an independent safeguard within the interception legislation.
The matter of ex-Inspector Graley's application to the Strasbourg Court continues with the UK, as the contracting party to the convention, expected to respond to the Court by late July 2008. The matter is published on the Court's public website, at the following link: http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/view.asp?action=html&documentId=829289&portal=hbkm&source=externalbydocnumber&table=F69A27FD8FB86142BF01C1166DEA398649
Since that publication further papers have been submitted drawing the Court's attention to the findings of the Police Complaints Commissioner in the investigations into Mike Culverhouse. The Commissioner opined that Mike Culverhouse had not made sufficient enquiries or had sufficient information on which to base his application for the intercept warrants. In interview during the investigation Mr Culverhouse claimed that he had discussed the application for warrants against Mr Graley with the Attorney General personally. Mr Graley's argument before the Strasbourg Court is that the Attorney General should have no part to play with the investigators if he is to act as a safeguard for the potential target of a warrant, and that the legislation is not compatible with the convention.
The United Kingdom has now admitted that Mr Graley's Article 8 Rights were breached by the actions of the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man on the advice of the Isle of Man Attorney General. The Interceptions of Communications Tribunal on the Isle of Man found in favour of a second applicant,Toby Neale, a serving police officer, that a warrant to intercept his communications was unlawful, and the United Kingdom also admitted a similar breach there. Another retired police officer, Roger Thomson, applied to the Strasbourg Court in respect of his telephone calls being intercepted. All three, Mr Graley, Mr Neale and Mr Thompson have received cash settlements from the Isle of Man Government in respect of damages.
External links
- Police bugged lawyers allegation
- New Chief Marhsal for TT & MGP Races
- MHK: Chief Constable will see out contract
- Judges rule out need for new bugging enquiry
- http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/view.asp?action=html&documentId=829289&portal=hbkm&source=externalbydocnumber&table=F69A27FD8FB86142BF01C1166DEA398649