Met comms man Dick Fedorcio sent on 'extended leave' during investigation

Director of public affairs Dick Fedorcio is under investigation by the IPCC for an allegation of ‘gross misconduct’ over his relationship with Wallis, who he appointed for a two-day-a-week PR contact.

A statement from the Met read: ‘Following an assessment of the material the IPCC has informed Mr Fedorcio and the MPS Directorate of Professional Standards that the investigation it is conducting will examine whether Mr Fedorcio has committed any act of gross misconduct.’

The statement goes on to explain that Fedorcio has been given the extended leave to allow him time to prepare for the IPCC inquiry.

‘Fedorcio also accepts that it would be inappropriate for him to continue to come into the office whilst there was on an going investigation and until other DPA staff had been interviewed,’ the statement continues.

Whilst he is away the comms directorate will be overseen by the commissioner's chief of staff Caroline Murdoch.

PRWeek.com revealed on 9 August that the Met’s comms during the London riots was being handled by deputy director of public affairs Chris Webb and chief press officer Ed Stearns, while Fedorcio is on holiday.

It was revealed during the phone hacking scandal that the Met had referred Fedorcio’s case to the IPCC to examine his relationship with Wallis, and the circumstances under which a Met contract was awarded to Wallis’ company, Chamy Media.

This article was first published on prweek.com