THE former head of a police union who won his job with coin toss has been handed one of the top roles overseeing police in County Durham.

Steve White, who quit as chairman of the Police Federation last year, was confirmed this week as the new chief executive of the Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (PCVC).

Appearing before Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Panel, Ron Hogg, the commissioner, told councillors he was satisfied Mr White was the best man for the £81,612-a-year job – despite questions over his use of expenses during his time at the federation.

“It was the unanimous decision that the role should be offered to Steve, he was the best candidate by some way,” said Mr Hogg said of a process which had seen 35 applicants whittled down to four for a final interview panel.

He added: “I have to disclose that subsequent to Steve being offered the role, it came to light an allegation was made against Steve during his prior period as chairman of the Police Federation.

“It was alleged he was required to pay back a sum of money relating to expenses.

“He gives me assurances he had not had to pay back any money and I have it in writing from the secretary of the Police federation that he did not.”

Mr White became chairman of the Police Federation in 2014 after a deadlocked vote was put to a coin toss to decide the contest’s outcome.

This role also saw him involved with the ‘Plebgate’ affair, following allegations the then Conservative government chief whip Andrew Mitchell had called a police officer a pleb outside Downing Street.

Mr Hogg used Mr White’s handling of this incident and subsequent court cases relating to it as an example of his suitability, claiming ‘the politician and police officer at the heart of it turned up at his retirement party’.

Speaking to the committee, Mr White said he would spend his first six months in the job over seeing the Outstanding-rated Durham Constabulary ‘listening and learning’.

He added: “When I joined [the police] 30 years ago it was about arresting bad people and driving around with blue lights on.

“Today it’s about making people’s lives better and to do that we’ve got to have community engagement – you’ve got to find what the real issues are.”

James Harrison