Three held in police corruption inquiry

The latest developments in the inquiry, called Operation Sacristy, came as the police authority prepared for separate gross misconduct proceedings against the force’s suspended chief constable, Sean Price, which are due to begin today. He is one of a clutch of people with past or current associations with Cleveland Police previously arrested as part of the inquiry.

A spokeswoman for Operation Sacristy said a 46-year-old man from Cleveland was arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position, corrupt practice, misconduct in a public office, money laundering, fraud by false representation and conspiracy to defraud. He has been bailed until April 2013.

Two men, aged 65 and 35 from Warrington, were arrested on suspicion of corrupt practice, money laundering and fraud by false representation. Both have been bailed until next March.

Meanwhile Mr Price will face a gross misconduct hearing involving allegations he used “undue influence” to appoint the daughter of Dave McLuckie, former police authority chairman, to a job with the force. He is also accused of lying to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) about his involvement and instructing his personal assistant to lie to the IPCC.

Mr Price, who remains suspended following his arrest in August last year, lost a High Court challenge last week in which he argued the hearing should be delayed to avoid potential prejudice of any future criminal trial.

The chief constable has since released a statement which said a letter written by a North Yorkshire Police detective for the court proceedings revealed he was “unlikely” to face any criminal charges.

He said: “I have always maintained my innocence of any gross misconduct and will continue to do so at the disciplinary hearing – though I do feel criminal matters should have been resolved first.”