Police Refute Reform UK’s Darren Grimes on Claim Over Public Meetings

Download IPFS

Durham County Council’s recently elected Deputy Leader, Darren Grimes of Reform UK, is facing scrutiny after police rejected his claim that they advised him against holding meetings with constituents. The claim was made in response to a resident’s request for help regarding a community parking issue.

Grimes, 31, a former presenter for GB News, was elected to the council in May 2025. Following the election, a Durham resident reached out to him seeking support with parking difficulties in the area. Grimes reportedly responded by stating that he could not hold public “surgeries,” a common term in the United Kingdom referring to face-to-face meetings between elected officials and constituents, due to alleged police advice concerning safety concerns.

However, Durham Constabulary has contradicted this statement. In response to inquiries from Byline Times, the police made clear that no such advice had been given to Grimes. A spokesperson for the force stated: “Durham Constabulary has not advised Mr. Grimes against holding local surgeries.”

The situation has sparked criticism, with questions being raised about transparency and accountability. Grimes has yet to respond publicly to the police statement or clarify the basis of his original claim. The lack of direct engagement with constituents has prompted concern among residents, particularly given the central role of surgeries in ensuring public access to elected officials.

This development adds pressure to the Reform UK councillor, whose party often emphasizes the importance of community-level representation and direct democratic engagement. While security concerns for public figures are valid in general, no specific threat or police directive appears to support Grimes’ explanation for not meeting with residents.

As of now, it remains unclear whether Grimes intends to revise his approach to constituent access or issue a correction.