Chief Constable has been asked to resign

The Police and Crime Commissioner of Avon and Somerset has received a letter from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary in support of a Nick Gargan resignation.

The letter - which was sent to Sue Mountstevens - could help decide the fate of her Chief Constable, who was found guilty of eight counts of misconduct by an independent panel.

In the letter Sir Tom Winsor confirms he agrees the Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset should go. Nick Gargan has 14 days to respond.

Commissioner Mountstevens told us the situation had been "damaging for everyone concerned".

Another MP has condemned the process that's led to Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Nick Gargan being asked to resign.

Mr Gargan was told to step down after an independent panel found him guilty of eight counts of misconduct. But Charlotte Leslie has joined fellow MP Ian Liddell-Grainger in saying the process smacks of "a witch hunt devoid of real facts".

Avon and Somerset Police Chief Constable Nick Gargan is "deeply sorry" for the "flawed judgement" and "ill-advised" behaviour that led to being found guilty of eight charges of misconduct, the Chief Police Officers Staff Association has said.

He has been asked to resign by the area's Police and Crime Commissioner, with his superintendents voting overwhelmingly against him.

A CPOSA spokesman said it was a "huge disappointment" that he had been asked to resign - and said the embattled chief constable's first priority on returning to the force would be to rebuild confidence in the force and in him as leader.

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said today that he had "let down" his colleagues, "abused his position", and had "lost the confidence of local people, police officers and staff".

Bob Constantine's report has more.

Today's report by an independent misconduct panel has also raised concerns about the IPCC's handling of the Nick Gargan investigation.

Following the Chief Constables suspension in May 2014, the IPCC began an investigation but concluded that there were no grounds for criminal charges.

PCC Sue Mountstevens has issued the following statement:

It is a "huge disappointment" that Avon and Somerset Police chief constable Nick Gargan has been asked to resign after being found guilty of misconduct, the Chief Police Officers Staff Association has said.

A spokesman for CPOSA said Mr Gargan was "deeply sorry" and that his first priority on returning to the force would be to rebuild confidence in the force and in him as leader.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Gargan, the spokesman said: "After five months of investigation and a 15 month process, the panel made findings of "flawed judgement" and "ill-advised" behaviour

"Chief Constable Gargan is deeply sorry for these and is committed to learning from them.

“We note and respect the views of certain groups of current and retired staff. We share their regret that the good name of the constabulary has been tarnished.

"But the overwhelming majority of the rumours surrounding the chief constable have turned out not to be true; indeed none of the initial allegations that prompted his suspension led to a misconduct finding, let alone a finding of gross misconduct or criminal behaviour. He welcomes publication of the panel's report."

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens has begun the process for Chief Constable Nick Gargan to resign.

The PCC used powers under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act (section 38), due to a lack of confidence by local people, police officers and staff.

It follows an independent misconduct panel finding Nick Gargan guilty of eight counts of misconduct last month.

Below is the full statement:

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner has begun the process for Nick Gargan to resign from his post.

Sue Mountstevens has used powers under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act (section 38) calling upon the Chief Constable to stand down, due to a lack of confidence by local people, police officers and staff.

The decision follows an independent misconduct panel which found Chief Constable Nick Gargan guilty of eight counts of misconduct last month.

Following today’s announcement Chief Constable Nick Gargan has been suspended.

ITV News understands that Avon and Somerset's police chief Nick Gargan has been asked to resign.

An independent panel found Mr Gargan guilty of eight unspecified charges of misconduct and recommended that he should get a final written warning.

However, it's now understood that the Police Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens will go further and use legal powers to order him to resign.

An official announcement is expected within the hour.