Complaints were lodged over how he described the appointment of then interim chief constable Maggie Blyth during a BBC Gloucestershire interview on October 18, 2024.
The Conservative PCC said at the time that she was “a breath of fresh air because she is not stale, pale and male”.
And one of the complainants believes this to be a negative comment about the Chief Constable Rod Hansen and that this statement would have disadvantaged or put off any future applicants to the temporary chief constable role who were male.
The radio interview took place in the aftermath of the suspension of Chief Constable Hansen last year.
“PCC Nelson said on BBC Radio Gloucestershire that the interim chief constable is a breath of fresh air because she is not stale, male and pale,” one of the complainants said.
“In doing so he has implied CC Hansen’s leadership was stale and has used gender, race and age as the reason.
“PCC Nelson has shown bias against white, male, mature applicants and is likely to put applicants with those protective characteristics at a disadvantage when compared to an applicant who does not have those characteristics.
“During his interview with BBC Radio Gloucestershire PCC Nelson praised the interim chief constable to such a disproportionate level to lead all other potential applicants to believe he has already identified the interim chief constable as his preferred candidate.
“In advance of any interviews he has publicly said, ‘I think I have the right person’.
“Neither PCC Nelson, nor his deputy should take any part in the interview process for temporary chief constable.”
The Office for Police and Crime Commissioner has declined to comment.
However, Mr Nelson’s position is understood to be that his use of the phrase “not stale, pale and male” was not meant literally.
But instead as an idiom to describe Maggie Blyth’s experience with a professional background outside of policing.
It is understood it was not his intention to be critical or offensive to anyone.
