Warwickshire's police commissioner has said a local MP is trying to "smear" his reputation by claiming there had been a "cover-up" relating to the Warwickshire Hunt.

MP for Warwick and Leamington Matt Western spoke in parliament about allegations police and crime commissioner Phillip Seccombe and former chief constable Debbie Tedds "engineered a cover-up that prevented a case of illegal foxhunting by Warwickshire Hunt from going to court".

Mr Western also claimed Mr Seccombe had obstructed him from obtaining information on the investigation and withheld it from the local police and crime panel.

His comments come months after an independent report found the commissioner did not influence Warwickshire Police's handling of the Warwickshire Hunt. 

The report was signed off after months of campaigning by Mr Western and local residents opposing the activities of the hunt and how the local force had handled its activities.

'There was clearly collusion'

Mr Western's comments came in parliament on Wednesday (October 15) amid a discussion on police and crime commissioners and a new Crime and Policing Bill which could abolish the elected position.

During a long address, the Labour MP argued few constituents know who their PCC is or what they actually do.

He also said the commissioners office needs reform as it is not serving communities effectively.

"Across the country, we see examples of PCCs failing constituents," Mr Western said. 

"This became an issue for me in Warwickshire, and not just through casework and wider constituents' concerns, of which there are many. 

"It was truly crystallised by the news story of a cover-up between Warwickshire hunt, Warwickshire police and the police and crime commissioner."

Public concern around the hunt started with Warwickshire Police issuing Warwickshire Hunt with a community protection notice, ordering that officers should be provided with a calendar of all events, plus the locations and timings of any road crossings a week before meets.

This was due to be appealed by Warwickshire Hunt but a private protocol to address road safety matters, which was controversially not made public, was agreed prior to that being heard and the CPN was dropped.

New Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith has since published the protocol.

Mr Western continued: "Neither I nor the residents of Warwickshire have any trust or confidence in Commissioner Philip Seccombe or the senior leadership team at Warwickshire police. 

"There was clearly collusion. 

"That is what the public believe, and that is what I believe, too. 

"The chief constable, whose daughter worked for Warwickshire hunt, retired early in September 2024, just three years after her appointment."

Commissioner's response

Following the address, Mr Seccombe has released a statement saying he is "deeply concerned" by the comments which he claimed are "serious and unfounded allegations" said under the protection of parliamentary privilege, "without presenting any supporting evidence".

He said claims of a cover-up are "simply untrue and, in my view, a deliberate and wilful misrepresentation of the facts".

"It appears Mr Western is conflating the issue of foxhunting with Warwickshire Police's decision to issue – and later withdraw – a Community Protection Notice (CPN) relating to anti-social use of the roads by the Warwickshire Hunt," he said. 

"This was a civil matter, not a criminal case. 

"The full circumstances have been examined in detail through an independent review commissioned by my office to ensure transparency and public confidence. 

"That review found all decisions were appropriately made by Warwickshire Police, with no direction or influence from me."

Mr Seccombe also stated: "No information has been withheld from the public."

He also pointed to a conviction earlier this year to show Warwickshire Police's commitment to enforcing the law around fox hunting.

The Conservative Party member has also confirmed he will publish all his correspondence with Mr Western regarding the Warwickshire Hunt as he refuted claims he had "blanked" the member of parliament.

"Assertions of collusion or cover-up are not only unsupported by evidence but also misrepresent the facts and the respective roles of the police and the PCC," he continued. 

"For Mr Western to suggest otherwise is therefore a deliberate attempt to mislead parliament."

The commissioner also claimed the Warwick and Leamington representative is the only local MP to refuse to meet and discuss the hunt's activities.