A controversial deputy Police and Crime Commissioner has stepped down from his post just months into his two-year term.
Councillor Steve Waight was appointed as deputy PCC by Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne in February but she announced yesterday that Mr Waight would be leaving in early September due to “personal reasons”.
His wife, also a councillor, took to Twitter at the time of the announcement yesterday: “A lesson we all learn in life, some earlier than others, is that you can’t buy quality at a budget price @steve_waight @KatyBourne.”
However, Mrs Waight was not willing to elaborate on the suggestive message.
Confirming the decision taken by Mr Waight, Mrs Bourne said: “I am sorry to see Steve go and would like to thank him for the enormous contribution he has made during the early establishment of my office.
“I wish him every success for the future and look forward to continuing to work with him in his role as a West Sussex County Councillor.”
Ian Chisnall, who ran as an Independent candidate during the 2012 PCC elections, questioned why Mr Waight had resigned so soon into his contract and whether the move indicated problems in the PCC office.
He said: “It is a shock that he has left so early because he was due to serve until 2015 so one would have expected him to serve until then.
“It is a big surprise – he knew what he was getting himself into.
“I think the important thing for the PCC really is moving forward – what’s Katy going to do next?”
Mrs Bourne hired Mr Waight as her deputy against advice from the Sussex Police and Crime Panel.
The panel feared Mr Waight would not be able to act with a required level of independence in the role and members were not satisfied that minimum standards for the post had been met.
A spokesman for Katy Bourne said that there are currently no plans to appoint a new deputy PCC.
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