Councillor in Eurovision party photo says she knew nothing about Dewey arrest at the time
Cllr Sem Moema. Photograph: Hackney Council
A councillor photographed at a now notorious Eurovision party attended by disgraced former councillor Tom Dewey said she had no idea that he had been arrested the month before for possession of indecent images of children.
Sem Moema, ward councillor for Hackney Downs and North East London Assembly Member, was among the guests at the private party in May last year.
The borough’s mayor Philip Glanville has taken a leave of absence after being suspended by Labour when the photograph emerged of him also in attendance at the party – hours after he was told of Dewey’s arrest.
Glanville had previously said that he had “not seen or spoken to Mr Dewey” since becoming aware of the investigation.
Cllr Moema, who is also Hackney’s mayoral advisor for private rented homes and affordability, said she was unaware that Dewey had been arrested or about the investigation.
She said: “I was in attendance at the party. I found out Tom Dewey had resigned from the council after the party, on the following Monday (16 May 2022), at the same time as other colleagues.”
She added: “I only became aware of the arrest, and its nature, when it was reported in the media in June 2023.”
Hackney Mayor Philip Glanville (far right) and Tom Dewey (far left), pictured at a party on 14 May 2022
Other people in the photograph of the party have been approached for comment but are yet to respond.
The Eurovision gathering took place at the rented home that Glanville lived in as a house share with Dewey.
Earlier on that Saturday, the mayor had taken a sensitive phone call from Hackney Council’s then chief executive Mark Carroll.
Carroll, who was at his home, phoned Glanville to inform him that Dewey, a newly-elected De Beauvoir Labour councillor, had been arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on 29 April 2022.
NCA detectives investigate serious and organised crime, “protecting the public by targeting and pursuing those criminals who pose the greatest risk to the UK”.
Carroll was alerted to the April 29 arrest after the NCA contacted the council’s safeguarding officer the morning of 13 May.
He asked for advice from the NCA immediately and spoke to them again on the Saturday and called the mayor.
Glanville said it was an “error of judgement” to be with Dewey that day, and that he decided not to cancel the event as he feared it would alert Dewey to what he knew.
The mayor said in a previous statement: “I was told of his arrest, but not the full extent of the charges, in a brief discussion with the council chief executive the same day.
“I shouldn’t have been at the event in which we were photographed but I did so as I feared to cancel the event, or not attend myself, may alert Tom to what I knew, during what I understood to be a live criminal case.”
Glanville moved out of the property the next day and is believed to have stayed with friends until Dewey had left.
Dewey was called into a meeting with Carroll on Monday 16 May 2022, and also spoke with Labour officials. He resigned that day as a councillor and also from the Labour party.
Last month, he was given a 12-month suspended sentence after admitting possessing 1,850 indecent images of children, including five described as “most serious”.
He was put on a 10-year sexual crime prevention order.
No Labour members, apart from Philip Glanville, have been suspended by the party.
Other people identified in the photograph have been approached for comment.
So Glanville made a mistake. How was he to know what the subject matter of the arrest had been. He shared a house with the guy – why does this reflect badly on him. I fully agree that his choice of words , given later events were unfortunate, but those throwing stones should think about their own life and little indiscretions first.
In any event, forcing Glanville out would be incrediable difficult and if I were him I’d resume my work ASAP and let his opponents tie themselves up in knots about what to do. The really important thing is the running of the council, and they should get on with that.
Should more significant evidence come to light about Glanville then I’ll reconsider my position. But until then these self important people should get on with the job they were elected to perform.
Allegedly Philip Granville was fully aware of the seriousness of Dewey’s arrest.
Matters are currently being thoroughly investigated.
Further information may or may not come to light.
As I’m sure you’re aware that at the next full council meeting on Wednesday September 27th, 2023 a motion for Philip Glanville to resign has been submitted.
We’ll clearly have to wait for due process to take it’s course.
Serious contradictions!
If Glanville hadn’t been told the nature of Dewey’s arrest his statement that he had to party with him to avoid alerting Dewey to what he knew is stupid. If he didn’t know how could he alert him?
LBH CEO calls Glanville to tell him what the police reported. It seems highly improbable that the police didn’t tell the CEO of the charges – Category A images of children! Also massively unlikely that the CEO wouldn’t have told Glanville.
After the police raid on the house he shared with Dewey, Glanville stays away, but why, if he didn’t know the charges?
Given Dewey had images on his computer why weren’t all the digital storage devices in this shared house (including Glanville’s) and Dewey’s workplace (LBH Offices) seized and examined?
Every twist and turn digs the hole deeper. Glanville needs to come clean and stop prevaricating. The CEO should clarify what he told Glanville simply because he is a Council Officer, not Glanville’s agent.
The Police could explain what they seized and why their net didn’t include other devices in the house and workplace.
The CPS could explain why Dewey got off with a sentence you might exoect for a traffic offence.
Shut up Graham. You sound stupid.
Good synopsis Pirate Jenny.