SCOTLAND YARD'S COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF RESIGNS
The Metropolitan Police Service director of Public Affairs has resigned following an investigation into alleged gross misconduct.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched their enquiry into the circumstances under which Fedorcio had contracted Neil Wallis, former deputy editor of News of the World, to provide PR advice to the Met.
However as a result of Fedorcio’s resignation, proceedings for gross misconduct cannot take place.
The case certainly exemplifies the importance of building professional, trusting relationships within the corporate communications industry.
Francis Ingham, PRCA chief executive says: “Corporate communications directors provide a bridge between the organisations they work for and the media. Without trust that bridge collapses leaving journalists worse informed and the organisation unable to put its point of view.”
The IPCC’s report, which investigated the relationship between Fedorcio and Wallis, was sent to the MPS Directorate of Professional Standards on 10 January and is to be published imminently.
IPCC Deputy Chair, Deborah Glass, says: “We decided to independently investigate the relationship between Mr Fedorcio and Neil Wallis, a former deputy editor at the News of the World, focusing on the circumstances under which a contract for senior level media advice and support was awarded to Mr Wallis’ company, Chamy Media.”
In the IPCC statement, Glass states Fedorcio has “a case to answer” with regards his decision to offer a contact to Wallis’ PR company, Chamy Media.