Matt Taylor, a Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate has called for an independent enquiry into Police corruption in Sussex.

Following the announcement by the Independent Police Complaints Commissioner (IPCC) to conduct an investigation into the Police handling of the Hillsbourough disaster, Matt Taylor says “It's time to do the same with Sussex Police.”

He says, “Since running for Police and Crime Commissioner, a wealth of information has come to my attention which indicates police corruption on a massive scale, possibly even bigger than the cover-up of the Hillsborough disaster.”

Matt Taylor has recently featured in four Hustings for the post of Police and Crime Commissioner organised by the Sussex Association of Local Councils (SALC). He has publicly declared he would not hesitate to sack the Chief Constable at the first whiff of corruption, and pledged to do so, if elected, after Martin Richards the Chief Constable of Sussex, faced a misconduct investigation by the IPCC.

He has since withdrawn his promise, following the news that Martin Richards has been cleared by the IPCC for any wrong doing.

He continues, “I have evidence which indicts between 50 and 300 Sussex police officers, involved in the cover-up of the criminal activities of a known criminal called Mr. Mark Slade, who has been allowed to conduct his criminal activities across Sussex and the killer of Katrina Taylor, a drug-user stabbed to death in a Brighton grave-yard in 1996.”

Asked what this evidence consists off, Matt Taylor answers, “A local resident of Sussex living in Peacehaven, David Neilson, who is also running as a Police and Crime Commissioner, has collated hundreds of files and over 300 hours of taped telephone conversations, which paint a depressing and bleak picture of corruption within Sussex Police. We know for a fact that police lie and fabricate evidence. Well, let me tell you, it's not just the South Yorkshire Police force who have been doing it. Sussex Police and been caught red handed too and as a prospective Police and Crime Commissioner, it is my duty to expose this corruption and in my capacity as a Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner candidate, I call on the IPCC to conduct an investigation into Sussex Police corruption, specifically into the murder cover-up of Katrina Taylor and the criminal activities of Mark Slade.”

“I have sent everything I have to all the candidates and to Chief Constable Martin Richard's, asking for a meeting to ask what they are doing to address this issue. As of yet I have had no replies. It leaves me with only two conclusions. Either they are incredibly naive about police corruption or they know full well the extent of corruption in Sussex and choose to ignore it. Either way, their silence speaks volumes and I for one will not keep silent. No one is above the Law and criminality must be brought to justice where-ever its found.”

Matt Taylor is an independent candidate running for Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner alongside Katy Bourne (Conservative), Godfrey Daniel (Labour), Ian Chisnall (Independent) and David Neilson (Independent).

Elections are set for 15th November 2012, but have been dogged with controversy.

The minister who introduced the legislation, Nick Herbert MP, has since resigned citing a 'Yes Minister' culture of civil servant interference. Plus a number of suitable candidates have had to withdraw due to their imprisonable convictions, no matter how long ago and the issue of £5000 deposit, together with the predicted low voter turn-out and the general politicization of the post has caused many suitable candidates to withdraw.

Matt Taylor is due to appear along-side the other Sussex Police and Crime Commissioners candidates at Hustings events on Wednesday 31st October at Sussex University starting at 7pm and again on Thursday 1st November at Crawley Youth Centre starting at 7.30pm.