THE appointment of a deputy police and crime commissioner without a recruitment process has sparked accusations of “nepotism” and “jobs for the boys”.

Nigel Bryson has been appointed as deputy police and crime commissioner (DPCC) after working closely with elected PCC Joy Allen.

But two councillors have criticised the lack of a recruitment process in the political appointment, and questioned the credibility of a new deputy without it.

Mr Bryson described himself as a strategist and facilitator who delivered the goods, solved problems and brought people together.

An occupational health and safety specialist for 37 years, awarded an OBE for services to the field in 2002, he said he was delighted at the opportunity to support the PCC.

Ms Allen told a Durham County Council police and crime panel meeting Mr Bryson was the “candidate of choice” with the right skills and knowledge for the job.

She said they met over 10 years ago at their Labour branch, worked on projects including Bishop Auckland and Coundon in Bloom and the Town Team, and worked “hand in glove” on her PCC election campaign.

Challenged over the lack of a recruitment process, she said: “I’ve got somebody who works really really closely with me, who I know, who knows the plan, who knows everything about me as a candidate and running it.

“I could go through the process but it would just be possibly going through the motions when I’ve got somebody who’s more or less the candidate of choice.

“There would be nobody that I know within our party that has the same skills and understanding of a police and crime plan and a commissioner’s role.

“If something happened to me tomorrow, Nigel could pick up straight away the next day because he’s been there with me all along.”

She said the two-day-a-week post, with a £10,322 annual special responsibility allowance from the public purse, would “test the water”.

Lib Dem Councillor Liz Brown said at the meeting: “This smacks very much to me of jobs for the boys.”

Conservative Cllr Robert Potts asked: “Do you think it’s right or morally correct for any person to be given a job without going through any recruitment process which will appear to be nothing more than nepotism to some of the people that you will be representing?”

Mr Bryson said: “I’m content with the process as it is.”

Asked how it could affect credibility and confidence, he said: “I don’t think that comes into question unless I was actually incompetent in the role. I would expect that if I’m incompetent in the role then I’d get slung out.”

Governance solicitor Kamila Coulson-Patel said a formal process was not required by legislation, and the panel recommended the appointment.