Exclusive: Police officials in fraud inquiry spent thousands on trips abroad

A further £7,300 was spent on a visit to Estonia by Cleveland chief constable Sean Price and the same three officials – his staff officer and future partner Heather Eastwood, police authority chairman Dave McLuckie and deputy chief executive Julie Leng.

It can also be revealed that restaurant bills totalling thousands of pounds were paid for on a police authority credit card issued to Coun McLuckie.

In addition, one month’s bill on Coun McLuckie’s authority- issued mobile phone ran to more than £1,600.

The Cleveland force and its police authority are currently at the centre of a major inquiry which is being largely staffed by North Yorkshire Police, with support from West Yorkshire. It is overseen by the head of the new National Crime Agency, Ken Bristow. Cleveland Police Authority said it was unable to comment on the details of the overseas trips or the credit card spending while the inquiry, called Operation Sacristy, continues.

Mr Price and Ms Eastwood, who live together in North Yorkshire, said their attendance at conferences was fully justified on policing grounds. The chief constable, who is currently suspended from his post, has previously made clear they did not stay together overnight on trips. The couple’s relationship became public knowledge in 2010.

The trips to the US and Estonia in 2009 included attendance at conferences hosted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Mr Price and Coun McLuckie also went to the US on an earlier trip to support two officers receiving an award at a total cost in excess of £7,000.

Coun McLuckie’s credit card records include one restaurant bill in excess of £700 and others in excess of £300. He declined to comment on his attendance on overseas trips or the use of his credit card.

Julie Leng, who left the police authority in December, also declined to comment.

Sean Price was suspended after being arrested in August while Coun McLuckie resigned as police authority chairman last May after the beginning of Operation Sacristy was announced.

Both have categorically denied any wrongdoing.

In a statement, Cleveland Police Authority said: “The Sacristy investigation is looking at many issues relating to a number of individuals. We cannot comment on specific issues at this stage.

“The authority has already publically accepted that there were failures within the authority and force. The new chairman, chief executive and temporary Chief Constable are undertaking a comprehensive review of all governance processes and many changes have already been made to ensure that such issues do not and can not happen again.

“In respect of corporate credit cards the authority has already tasked its Auditors to carry out an independent and urgent review of the use of credit cards and we will make their report public and implement any recommendations that the auditors put forward. We expect that report to be completed within a couple of weeks and published at the end of February.”

Referring to recent findings contained in a national report into police integrity by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), the statement added: “In addition the Force has set up an Integrity Board to ensure the recommendations of the HMIC report, Without Fear of Favour are implemented in the force. One of the issues that this is looking at is the use of corporate credit cards.

“The chairman of the police authority (now Hartlepool elected mayor Stuart Drummond) had made it absolutely clear that all allegations relating to the misuse of public money will be fully investigated – without exception, and that the findings or any such investigation will be made public as soon as we are legally able to do so.”

Revelations surrounding the spending follow a Yorkshire Post investigation and information provided by Cleveland Police Authority under the Freedom of Information Act.

A spokesman for Operation Sacristy said: “We are aware that Cleveland Police Authority has provided some information. The decision to do so is a matter for them alone.

“Five people have been arrested and bailed in connection with our investigations, which are being progressed as quickly as professionally possible.”

As well as investigating spending relating to a number of individuals, Sacristy is looking at a range of contracts and sale of assets undertaken by Cleveland Police Authority.