Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner agrees to conduct retraining after text messages complaint

According to the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel, a complaint was made on February 17, 2025 about PCC Marc Jones which they referred to the panel’s Monitoring Officer, Will Bell.

Almost a year later, the outcome of the process has now been published (January 9) on the Lincolnshire County Council website.

Mr Jones was firstly accused of being ‘less than honest with investigators’ in relation to a previous investigation conducted by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in 2023 under Operation Motala where it was alleged that he sought to manipulate a Chief Constable selection process in 2020.

The IOPC concluded at the time that whilst the actions of the PCC were not criminal, Mr Jones "did not always adhere to the guiding principles of fairness, openness and merit at all times during the process". The IOPC said his actions "did not meet the threshold to be considered wilful misconduct".

Mr Jones had said he was satisfied at being “cleared of wrongdoing".

However, to support the latest allegation, a series of text messages were submitted, allegedly sent by Mr Jones to a third party. “The complainant objected to the language used in some of the text messages towards some of the members of the Police and Crime Panel including, in particular, the chair,” states Mr Bell.

On the first allegation, Mr Bell said: “Mr Jones has provided categoric assurances that he fully complied with all requests for information from the relevant investigators at the time and there was nothing in the text messages that changed his view on this. Indeed, in so doing, he had sought advice from specialist solicitors to advise him on such matters and has subsequently obtained further assurance from the same solicitors that the text messages that have been filed in the complaint do not materially differ to the information provided to the investigators. Accordingly, no further action is recommended on this.

“Mr Jones accepted that he shouldn’t have sent the text messages containing information concerning a confidential recruitment process that he was involved with in his capacity as the Police and Crime Commissioner and regretted the ‘strong’ language used to describe some of the Panel members involved in that process, most particularly the Chair. Mr Jones expressed regret for sending these messages and, on reflection, accepts that he could have dealt with the situation differently."

Mr Bell concluded: “Mr Jones has accepted my recommendation that he undertakes appropriate training on his Code of Conduct.”

A second allegation that Mr Jones was involved in a relationship with an employee of Lincolnshire Police who was then appointed to a senior position within his office was dismissed with no further action recommended after Mr Bell said Mr Jones categorically denied a relationship “at the time of their appointment or subsequently”, insisting the appointment was made on merit, following proper process.

Following publication of the report, Coun Graham Marsh, Vice Chairman of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel, said: "We are disappointed in the conduct of the PCC,” commenting, “this will knock residents' confidence in Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner.”

As the role of Police and Crime Commissioners is set to change in the coming years, Coun Marsh said the panel is keen for future scrutiny bodies to be given more powers.

Commenting on the publishing of the report, Mr Jones said: “I’m a bit baffled by this, to be honest. It relates to a matter from some years ago and, as the report confirms, both substantive allegations were dismissed without fault on my part. Furthermore, I offered to take up some voluntary training to ensure no future errors can happen regarding technical breaches of the code of conduct. “As far as I’m concerned this matter was appropriately resolved some time ago.”