Civilian sacked over scandal to sue police force

The woman was fired last year following a probe into the force’s shambolic constable recruitment campaign, during which Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell helped a relative jump the queue for application forms and authorised his deputy Adam Briggs to do the same.

She and a male colleague, also a civilian worker, were dismissed following a gross misconduct hearing in which it was alleged they circumvented the procedure for their own gain. Mr Maxwell, Mr Briggs and a police constable were also sanctioned after disciplinary proceedings but were allowed to remain in their jobs. Mr Briggs has since retired.

The employment tribunal is expected to be heard at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, although a date is yet to be fixed. If held in public, it would be the first open hearing about the recruitment process and could lead to more scrutiny of the wrongdoing that took place.

Mr Maxwell’s predecessor, Della Cannings, yesterday questioned whether he could carry on in his role, and said: “I’m very proud of North Yorkshire Police. I think it came a long way under my tenure and I think it has continued to develop under Grahame’s tenure – and I think it’s really important for the people of North Yorkshire that that is allowed to carry on and go forward.

“I just have this question after such a thing as this, as a chief constable pleading guilty to gross misconduct – it’s just not viable for him to lead the organisation any longer.”

Ms Cannings also raised concerns over the cost of the disciplinary process, and added: “The cost question is really very important. I don’t know if anyone has asked that question, but I would not think it was unusual for it to be between a half (a million) and £1m in terms of legal fees for the authority and the cost of setting up the tribunal, as well as the legal costs from the Association of Chief of Police Officers in terms of Grahame.”

Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams yesterday urged the Chief Constable to step down, joining Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith and York Central MP Hugh Bayley in questioning whether he can carry on.

“I don’t believe you can admit an offence such as gross misconduct and still stay in your job,” Mr Adams said.

“I’m afraid I think Mr Maxwell should go. I think overall since taking over he’s done a good job, but I now think his position is untenable.”

Mr Maxwell has also been left isolated by the Government, with the Home Office noticably silent on the issue, and no evidence of visible support for the Chief Constable from Ministers since the ruling.

But he was supported by his employer, North Yorkshire Police Authority (NYPA), yesterday after he apologised to members during a private meeting.

In a statement, the authority’s members said they were “convinced” that it was in the best interests of the police service and the community they served that Mr Maxwell “should now get on with the job of leading North Yorkshire Police”.

Members added that they had considered the stability of the force, particularly as the position of deputy chief constable remains unfilled following Mr Briggs’s retirement, while “closely monitoring public opinion on the matter”.

“It is fair to say,” the statement read, “that the views of the public that we are aware of differ, in roughly equal proportions, between those who consider that the Chief Constable has been held to account for his activities and that the appropriate sanction has been imposed and (he) should now be allowed to continue with his role, and those who think he should resign. Importantly, senior staff within North Yorkshire Police appear to be supportive of Mr Maxwell continuing to lead them.”

A force spokeswoman said: “North Yorkshire Police can confirm that a member of police staff who was dismissed following an investigation into the recruitment campaign in February 2010, has issued employment tribunal proceedings against the force. As is usual in the case of active litigation, we are not in a position to make any further comment at this stage.”