Deputy Chief Constable sacked after hearing costing £500,000

The Deputy Chief Constable of scandal-hit Cleveland Police has been sacked for gross misconduct after a disciplinary hearing estimated to have cost taxpayers a total of £500,000.
Derek Bonnard has been sacked for gross misconductDerek Bonnard has been sacked for gross misconduct
Derek Bonnard has been sacked for gross misconduct

The force said Derek Bonnard was dismissed after six counts of gross misconduct were upheld, including the deliberate obstruction of Operation Sacristy, a long-running criminal investigation into alleged wrongdoing at Cleveland Police and the former Cleveland Police Authority.

Mr Bonnard was fired without notice by an independent 
panel at the conclusion of a disciplinary hearing following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission 
(IPCC).

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The dismissal comes less than six months after Cleveland’s former chief constable, Sean Price, was also sacked for gross misconduct. Last October, Mr Price became the first chief constable to be sacked in 35 years after he was found to have lied about his role in the recruitment of the daughter of former police authority chairman, Dave McLuckie.

Cleveland’s new chief constable, Jacqui Cheer, said: “In May 2012, Derek Bonnard publicly stated he was innocent of any wrongdoing and wanted his name cleared. He also described the investigation as highly expensive, recognising that it was funded by taxpayers.

“Quite clearly, he is not innocent of any wrongdoing, and he has succeeded in delaying his misconduct hearing, which has incurred additional cost for the taxpayer.

“Mr Bonnard’s actions were reflective of the culture at the top of the organisation at that time, and measures have been put in place to ensure that this type of behaviour is not repeated.”

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As well as obstructing the criminal inquiry, Mr Bonnard was found to have misused a corporate credit card and inappropriately hired a van which he crashed, costing the taxpayer over £5,000.

He was also found to have accepted inappropriate hospitality, failed to follow policy and procedure in relation to an unspecified redundancy matter and misused public funds in relation to a charity bike ride.

IPCC Commissioner Nicholas Long said: “Senior police officers are expected to lead by example and adhere to principles including accountability, honesty and integrity. Mr Bonnard demonstrated a flagrant disregard for those principles. The evidence showed he used public money as if it was his own and appears to have taken whatever opportunities he could to benefit himself. He was a public servant who forgot about the public he was appointed to serve.”

Ms Cheer added: “Throughout the investigation and the disciplinary process he has sought to blame others for his own actions and behaviours.

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“He has let himself down, he has let Cleveland Police down but most importantly, he has let the people of Cleveland down. The force deserves much better from one of its most senior officers.

“I am disappointed that he has at no stage of the process attempted to take any responsibility for his actions or show any concern for how much this has cost the public of Cleveland.

“If he had admitted his misconduct earlier, he would have saved the taxpayer a significant amount of money. We estimate that the hearing cost almost £500,000.

“Derek Bonnard made a commitment through his legal team in the High Court that should he be dismissed following this hearing, he would pay back the salary he has received since November 2012.

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“This amounts to over £40,000. If this is not forthcoming, action will be taken to recover this money.”

Mr Bonnard denied deliberately delaying the hearing. He said he was only seeking a fair hearing and would appeal.