Chief Constable has lost respect of the public and his force

Of course, the North Yorkshire Chief Constable should retire after his admission of gross misconduct (Yorkshire Post, May 11).

How on earth does Grahame Maxwell believe that he can work, in harmony with the Assistant Chief Constable who blew the whistle, and fellow officers of all ranks who will look upon his behaviour (and that of his now- retired deputy) as shameful at the very least?

He has lost all right to his authority over those at lower rank – the backbone of the Police Service. He did not have the good grace to admit to his disgraceful behaviour until forced into this position – and, now, afterwards, he still believes that he was in the right by the statement from his spokesperson that he “at no time intended to breach or knowingly breached professional standards and did not intend to confer any improper advantage on another person”. What then did he intend? The IPPC dealt very leniently with Mr Maxwell by not requiring him to resign.

I may add that I am a retired police officer of North Yorkshire Police – long before this chief took post – and I feel incensed at his and his deputy’s behaviour.

From: David Speight, Bradford Road, Tingley, Wakefield.

CHIEF Constable Grahame Maxwell has only done what most of us would to help a family member get a job. They would still have to pass the entrance test to become a police officer. However, MPs do this all the time, they employ family members often doing very little work nor are most of them qualified to do the job. We have only to look at one now-former MP who employed his son to do work for him while at university.

Often MPs employ their wives, no interview no qualifications: they simply get the job.

From: P Rowbottom, West Hagley, West Midlands.

AS a member of the public, I was astonished at the behaviour of CC Maxwell in not only arranging for his friends or family members to circumnavigate the job interview process but even worse in trying to evade justice.

He attempted to do this by effectively saying he could do whatever he liked due to his senior position. Credit should go to at least one senior officer within the North Yorkshire force who had the strength of character to ensure the original offence was brought to the attention of the relevant investigators.

As I noted that the local MP has called for Mr Maxwell’s immediate resignation, I hope anyone who is equally disgusted at this officer’s behaviour will make a formal complaint to North Yorkshire Police Authority.

From: Phil Hanson, Beechmount Close, Baildon, Shipley.

ANY employee found guilty of gross misconduct would not be surprised to lose the job, so why is it that a public employee in a position such as Chief Constable neither thinks it wrong and gets off with a final written warning? Surely he should be booted out and lose out on his solid gold pension also?

How can the ordinary man and woman in the street have any respect or confidence in the police when they are led by people like this? Very worrying!

From: Margaret Vasey, Aunums Close, Thornton le Dale.

COULD someone please explain to me why the North Yorkshire Chief Constable should resign? He’s not been involved in fiddling money from the system, unlike the MPs who defrauded the taxpayer with their expense claims. Also, what about those MPs who gave jobs to their relations?

From: John Swift, Gisbourne Road, Bradley, Huddersfield.

THE Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, Mr Grahame Maxwell, must be dismissed (Yorkshire Post, May 11). The net for a replacement should be cast immediately.