Arrested councillor "should have stepped down sooner"

A SENIOR city councillor has stepped down from the authority's executive board after his arrest on suspicion of assault and sexual assault.

Coun Hassan Ahmed, 58, was arrested on July 29 but only announced he would step aside while police investigated the matter after the Evening Post broke the story yesterday.

Opposition party leaders on the council yesterday said Coun Ahmed, who has denied the allegations and remains a councillor, should have stepped down immediately pending the outcome of the police investigation.

Coun Gary Long, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "I would expect the same or higher standards to apply to councillors as the council would expect to apply to its staff. I would have expected a member of staff to be suspended pending an investigation and therefore Coun Ahmed should have stood down immediately."

Coun Andrew Price, leader of the Conservative Group, said: "If I was leader and a Conservative portfolio holder had been arrested for sexual assault I would ask them to consider their position and would wonder if it would be better for them to stand down [pending the outcome of the investigation]."

Following publication of the story yesterday, council leader Jon Collins, emailed all Labour councillors.

He wrote: "You may have read reports in today's Nottingham Evening Post regarding Hassan. He has not been charged and meanwhile is intending to step down from his position as an executive member."

Council chief executive Jane Todd said: "As soon as the allegations were raised with Coun Collins he spoke to me and to the police divisional commander.

"Shortly afterwards [Coun Collins] gave a statement to the police. It is possible the police will want to speak to him again as they carry out their investigations, so people will understand that it would not be appropriate for him to make any further comment at this stage."

The offence is alleged to have occurred late at night in July.

Coun Collins has declined to answer questions about when he was aware of Coun Ahmed's arrest and what action he has taken in relation to the matter.

Coun Ahmed has been bailed to report to the police on November 19.

Yesterday a Notts Police spokesman said: "The matter is still very much under investigation."

A statement released on Coun Ahmed's behalf said: "Mr Hassan Ahmed vehemently denies the allegation. Mr Ahmed is fully cooperating with the police investigation."

A council spokesman said: "It would not be appropriate to comment at this stage. Councillor Ahmed has decided to step aside from his duties as portfolio holder for employment and skills while the matter is resolved. He will continue to serve as a councillor. In the interim, his portfolio holder responsibilities will be carried out by Councillor Jon Collins."

A spokeswoman for Standards Board for England said there was no guidance on whether councillors should stand down after they had been arrested.