Exclusive: Second misconduct probe for top police chief over computer find

Deputy chief constable of North Yorkshire Police Adam Briggs has promised not to be distracted from his duties while the Independent Police Complaints Commission investigates his use of a laptop computer.

He said he had been unable to open the disk and had not known its "inappropriate and distasteful" contents, until it was analysed by IT technicians.

The inquiry will run alongside a separate IPCC investigation into allegations Mr Briggs and North Yorkshire chief constable Grahame Maxwell helped relatives who wanted jobs as police officers.

It is understood the disk, which has been seized by the IPCC, contained research material and images for help with formal presentations.

Other images included, however, advertising-style poster material featuring scantily-clad models, and a number of cartoons, one of which featured a rabbi.

None of the images are thought to be criminal in nature and it is believed the disk contained no pornography.

Mr Briggs said: "Some time ago I was forwarded a computer disk which the sender believed would be of use to me in my work as a police officer.

"I recently attempted to view the contents of the disk for the first time on my office laptop but the computer was unable to open it.

"I intended to get the IT department to open it for me but before this was done the laptop was taken away as part of an upgrade with the disk still inside and unopened.

"The disk was subsequently opened by the IT department. I have now been shown a copy and I have viewed the contents for the first time.

"From the images I have seen some of the content would have been of use to me in my work as a police officer. Other images, while widely available to the public, I regard as inappropriate and distasteful and I would never have used them.

"I will co-operate with the IPCC and I hope the matter will be resolved quickly. In the meantime, this will not distract me from my duties and I will continue to serve the public as normal."

IPCC deputy chairman Len Jackson said that the disk and computer would be "subjected to detailed analysis".

"It is in the public interest that this matter is subject to a wholly independent investigation."

"It would be inappropriate at this stage for me to comment on the alleged nature of the material contained on the disk."

North Yorkshire Police Authority, which referred the matter to the IPCC on Tuesday, released a statement confirming it concerned "a second issue of alleged misconduct by a chief officer".

A spokeswoman for the force said it would "extend full co-operation" to the IPCC but would not comment further.

Mr Briggs, Britain's lead officer on European road policing, joined North Yorkshire in June 2007. He is married with four children and previously held jobs with Cleveland Police and West Yorkshire Police.

As well as its inquiries into Mr Briggs's conduct, the IPCC is investigating North Yorkshire and two other forces after they failed to stop on-the-run sex offender Peter Chapman, who kidnapped, raped and murdered a teenage girl he met through Facebook.

North Yorkshire's roadside cameras picked up Chapman's car twice on October 26 last year while he was wanted in relation to allegations of theft, arson and failing to report a change of address.