Kent PCC Investigated

Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner, Anne Barnes, is being investigated over an accident in Dartford earlier this month.

Kent police have told Heart that following the crash in Dartford, they have referred the matter to the panel that holds the PCC to account.

In a statement the police said: "Kent Police investigated a collision in Princes Road, Dartford at 3.30pm on Tuesday 16 September 2014. As a result of our investigation, the matter was referred to the Chair of the Police and Crime Panel. It would not be appropriate to comment further."

Mrs Barnes Mercedes hit another car and then a tree in Princes Road, Dartford. The crash blocked one lane of the road for two hours.

A spokesman for Mrs Barnes said: "We can confirm that the chair of the PCC was made aware of a referral from Kent Police following an investigation into a collision in Princes Road, Dartford.

"The matter was passed to the monitoring officer at the office of the PCC for further consideration. The monitoring officer has subsequently referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."

This is the latest in a series of mishaps for Mrs Barnes. Last year the Youth Commissioner she appointed, Paris Brown, 16, quit after making explicit comments about sex, drugs and violence on Twitter.

In June she apologised for appearing in the Channel 4 fly-in-the-wall documentary, Meet The Commissioner, which some police claimed made the force look a "laughing stock. She said she was deeply sorry and admitted that with hindsight it was the wrong decision to feature in it.