Yorkshire officers probe police force '˜run like a money-grabbing boys' club'

Sue Sim, the ex-chief constable of Northumbria Police, who has said that her biggest battle was with the force's "sexist, money-grabbing" culture.

Mrs Sim, who retired last year, was the top officer at Northumbria Police when gunman Raoul Moat shot a policeman, his ex-girlfriend and killed her new lover.

She said of her time with the force: “My biggest battle was with a culture that was sexist, money-grabbing and run by a “boys’ club” of senior officers who thought they could do what they damn well wanted.”

After claiming that some officers made decisions about promotions while playing golf on the force’s time, she said: “I don’t think the public have any idea of the sort of attitudes that prevail in that force.”

Mrs Sim gave evidence in a high-profile employment tribunal in May relating to alleged sexism in the force.

Her allegations were studied by her successor, Chief Constable Steve Ashman, who decided they did not merit an investigation.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission also agreed there should be no investigation.

But Mrs Sim has complained about Mr Ashman’s decision and this is being investigated by West Yorkshire Police.

She told the BBC: “If people will be sexist towards a chief constable, then what are they going to do to victims of crime, to officers and to staff within the force? That’s why I’m doing this.”

Northumbria Police said it awaited the outcome of the Yorkshire investigation “with interest”, but a spokesman said: “These are old and tired accusations and have been exhaustively looked at by three organisations at considerable taxpayers’ expense.”

Mrs Sim had given evidence in support of the force’s former head of legal services, Denise Aubrey, at a lengthy employment tribunal, which went in the police’s favour.

The force pointed out last night that four staff associations representing its workforce had made a rare joint statement saying they “did not recognise” the sexism allegations brought up in the tribunal.

The force said: “Given that the Chief Constable, leading independent Counsel, the IPCC and all four staff associations are clear on the matters she raises, Northumbria Police will not act any further in relation to the allegations made by Mrs Sim.”