Police and fire chief to quit at election over vile jibe at female colleague – after he told meeting: ‘I’ll dump the b***h’

A beleaguered police and fire chief finally agreed to step down last night after it emerged he had told a meeting: ‘I’ll dump the bitch’ when discussing a female colleague.

Stephen Mold, the police, fire and crime commissioner for Northamptonshire, faced a barrage of criticism over the ‘misogynistic’ comment made when he was asked what he would do if his new fire chief Nikki Watson was found guilty of misconduct.

Mold was already under pressure over his appointment of Ms Watson’s predecessor his ‘close friend’ Nicci Marzec.

His office initially said he had attended a ‘reflective meeting’ to ensure he ‘fully understands the impact of the language he used and the need to remain calm under pressure’ following the comments.

But late yesterday afternoon, as pressure on him mounted, he released a lengthy statement saying he would not seek reelection in May.

Police, fire and crime commissioner for Northamptonshire Stephen Mold has said he will not seek reelection in May (file photo)

It emerged that he had said ‘I’ll dump the bitch’ when discussing Nikki Watson (file photo)

He said he had made a ‘significant mistake’ that would have an ‘impact on his ability to steer cultural change’ at Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.

‘I know that culture is one of the biggest challenges facing both services, and it was up to me to set an example. I have failed on that with the language I used, and I really am sorry that I have let people down,’ he said.

Mr Mold – who has denied Ms Marzec was his lover – went on: ‘Public life is hard – the public spotlight is relentless at times and the pressure intolerable. No-one can remain immune to that and the toll it has taken on me and those around me has been significant.’ Ms Watson, the former Deputy Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police, was appointed despite being currently under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct over her attendance at a policing conference in 2023.

Mr Mold used the derogatory term while explaining that Ms Watson would be removed from her new post if the police watchdog found against her.

His own party said his position was untenable after his comments, made at a meeting with firefighters earlier this month, were revealed.

Adam Brown, deputy leader of Conservative-controlled West Northamptonshire Council, said Mr Mold’s ‘misogynistic language’ at the meeting ‘creates a hostile environment for female employees of the fire service and the police’.

Mr Mold used the derogatory term while explaining that Ms Watson would be removed from her new post if the police watchdog found against her

Conservative councillor James Hill, who has lodged an official complaint with the party, said: ‘There comes a point where enough’s enough, and that’s where I’m at now and I feel that, as a party, we can do better and we can have someone who can represent us in the way we should be represented.’ Mr Mold has already faced criticism over his appointment of Ms Marzec, amid speculation over her friendship with him.

Mr Mold, 55, faced calls to resign after it emerged he hired Ms Marzec, 50, as Northamptonshire’s interim chief fire officer even though she had no previous experience. Ms Marzec quit just ten days later amid uproar, and five separate sources later told The Mail on Sunday she had been in a relationship with the Tory commissioner for years.

Independent councillor Ian McCord said Mr Mold was ‘an embarrassment’ adding: ‘What does he have to do before the local Conservatives will tell him it’s time to go? Why does the local party tolerate almost daily humiliation their resident jester brings?’